HOW LONG INDIA CAN FACE UNREST IN KASHMIR?

Photo courtesy -  Mukhtar Khan, Nam News Network  

Mukesh Devrari

Burhan Wani was killed by armed forces. He was the Kashmiri militant, who used to pose in fancy military uniforms on social networking sites to attract youth to join dreaded terrorist group Hizbul Mujahideen. Kashmir Muslims started protesting after the pictures of his dead body were circulated by the media.

What else could have been the fate of an armed militant? What else his sympathizers were expecting? He was destined to face the consequences for his choice. All separatist elements are responsible for his death who encourage youth to pick arms. For the loss of this life and many others like him, those are responsible who glorify and glamorize the Islamic terrorism in Kashmir.   

Indians strategists must learn a few lessons from this incident. Killings of these high profile terrorists should be handled delicately. Whether like it or not, in Kashmir valley terrorists enjoy widespread support among the Muslim population. India is too democratic to handle the separatist movement in Kashmir. Unrest after his death in Kashmir immediately brought excitement in Pakistan. They immediately jumped to internationalize the Kashmir issue. 

The spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign affairs in Islamabad said, “The extrajudicial killing of Kashmiri leader Burhan Wani and scores of other innocent Kashmiris are deplorable and condemnable. Such acts are a violation of the fundamental human rights of Kashmiris”. Chairman of the Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umar Farooq also tried to use this opportunity to mislead Indians about the situation in Kashmir. He asked for their support for separatist elements.

Independent MLA Engineer Rashid, who organized a beef party and served cow meat, to insult Hindus, said, “Kashmir is not a law and order issue. Hizbul Mujahideen commander ruled hearts.” Over the decades Kashmiri Muslim youth have been radicalized to hate India because it is a Hindu majority state. They project the confrontation with armed forces as a fight against Hindus.

As per the media reports while protesting the death of the Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani Kashmiri Muslims attacked the minority colony in Pulawama. Two abandoned houses off Pandits were set afire. Another colony of minorities was attacked in Kaal. All these incidents show the pattern of the separatists' movement in Kashmir.

Despite all these tragic incidents, separatist elements need to understand that hatred for Hindus and India will not be helpful to anyone. Rather than misleading the youth to ruin their life, Kashmiris must realize that Kashmir is theirs, they own it. By picking arms against India they will only lose it. No society likes armed forces in their midst. It can be frustrating to see armed forces all around. Whenever a young man is stopped by army personnel for checking he must have a feeling that he is being denied his dignity.

Indian forces have been deployed in large number in Kashmir valley to deal with armed separatist elements. When there will be no violence, there will be no armed forces in civilian areas. One can only hope that time will come when there will be no need for armed forces in civilian areas in Kashmir. It must be emphasized that no Indian harbours any ill will towards Kashmiris.  

India should remove armed from the areas where there is calm and peace. In the case of the reemergence of violence, forces can be redeployed. More than Kashmiris we as a nation should take the first step. 

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