Kashmiri struggle and 'Pakistan's national interest'.
Dr Shabir ChoudhryLondon, April 9 Hindustan Times
The Pakistani policy makers should realise that Kashmir was not a part of Muslim League’s demands for Pakistan, hence not part of ‘Two Nations Theory’ ...Failure to resolve problems and refusal to accept legitimate rights of other ethnic groups resulted in Pakistan's dismemberment.
He may not be democratically elected and might not have won hearts of many, but he must be given credit for being more tolerant and accommodating than those who claimed to be champions of democracy. The media and politicians say what they want to say, and get away with it because General Musharaf accepts criticism although he would not change his course of action, especially when he thinks he is on the right track.
If one studies history of Pakistan one fails to find a trouble free period. Different governments have faced different challenges, and in order to divert attention away from these problems, governments at times were tempted to involve themselves in adventures for which Pakistan had to pay heavy price later on in her short life.
Failure to resolve problems and refusal to accept legitimate rights of other ethnic groups resulted in dismemberment of Pakistan. This tragic event proved that nation states do not survive merely on basis of religion; and it also proved that no ethnic group could be oppressed forever and denied of right to live and prosper.
Apart from this it proved that the Pakistani leadership lacked skills to correctly analyse the ground realities and formulate appropriate policies to meet those changes. Various Pakistani governments have, time and again, demonstrated their stubbornness and inability to understand the ground realities; as a result we find Pakistan again in most serious problems since separation of East Pakistan.
No doubt General Musharaf is a fighter and appears to be ‘confident’ with what he is doing. One wonders if he can alone face all these challenges, some of which are his own creation.
He must be given credit for taking bold decisions, but he needs to be reminded that bold decisions only pay off if they are correct and there is appropriate strategy to sell them at home and abroad. Normalisation of relationship with India is a good start. It is timely realisation that we have to live as good neighbours, neighbours who can change quality of life of more than one billion people living in this region.
Both General Musharaf and Prime Minister Vajapayee have an opportunity to make history and put South Asia on road to progress to meet challenges of 21st century. Both leaders, in their own way, are courageous and innovative, and are endowed with skills and determination to create peace and stability in the region.
General Musharaf is having difficulties in curbing activities of those groups who are using religion and its wrong interpretation to advance their political agendas. What he is doing now to control them should have been done many years ago when we, the nationalists of Kashmir, suggested that these communalists will create problems for the Kashmiri struggle and the Pakistani society.
It is unfortunate that at time encouragement and active support to these groups was considered in ‘Pakistan’s national interest’, and as a result these groups became so powerful that they started challenging powers of the state. Although some policy makers were alarmed by the rise of these groups, and alarm bells rang in many circles but they found it difficult to take action against them. It was this realisation coupled with some pressure from abroad which helped the Pakistani policy makers to take decisive action.
We have no problem in supporting General Musharaf in his endeavours to control activities of communal groups, and for starting the peace process with India; but we expect him not to make the Kashmir dispute a religious issue.
He needs to be reminded that a good doctor always carefully diagnose the problem before giving out medicine to his patients. Similarly for correct policies which are in the best interest of Pakistan and South Asia, he needs to carefully diagnose the Kashmir dispute before formulating any policy regarding its solution.
He has courage and determination to reverse some wrong policies of his predecessors, even reversing his own wrong policy of confrontation with India. I hope that he will be able to see flaws in Pakistan’s Kashmir policy, and make changes to it for the sake of peace and stability in South Asia.
Pakistani policy makers should analyse their Kashmir policy carefully and accept that it has failed to resolve the dispute, it has failed to save Kashmiri lives and it has added to problems not only for Kashmiris but also for Pakistan....their policy of accusing India for all the ills associated with the Kashmir dispute is not getting any credence...
Pakistani policy makers should analyse their Kashmir policy carefully and accept that it has failed to resolve the dispute, it has failed to save Kashmiri lives and it has added to problems not only for Kashmiris but also for Pakistan. And their policy of accusing India for all the ills associated with the Kashmir dispute is not getting any credence, as the world community also looks at the follies of Pakistani governments associated with their Kashmir policy.
People have every right to ask why Pakistani governments are more concerned about rights of the people on the other side of the LOC; whereas Pakistan has effectively deprived the people of Kashmir basic rights in Gilgit and Baltistan and Azad Kashmir. Who in his right mind will pay any attention to Pakistan’s protests about human rights violations by Indian para - military forces when Pakistan has virtually annexed a large area of the State and have so far refused to give them basic human rights?
The Pakistani policy makers should realise that Kashmir was not a part of Muslim League’s demands for Pakistan, hence not part of ‘Two Nations Theory’ what ever it means in view of current policies of Pakistan. The Kashmir dispute is not a religious in nature and all the attempts to make it that will prove counter productive, and will pave the way for division of the State, which will not provide a lasting solution.
They also need to understand that Kashmiris on both sides of the divide have yet to exercise their right to determine their future, and at present they are not part of any country – and are not ‘Atoot ang, or ‘sha rag’. They also need to get out of this allusion that people of Kashmir are very eager to join Pakistan, after all what attraction is there for them to join Pakistan; and if given a choice they will prefer to become independent of both countries.
Recently I met a senior Pakistani official who was not happy with me because my activities were against what he considered as ‘Pakistan’s national interest’. I politely said that what I am doing is in my national interest, and unlike Pakistan’s national interest, my national interest does not change. Our struggle is for unification and independence of the State, and establish a society which values liberal and democratic values and opposes forces of communalism and extremism.
I gave him examples where Pakistan pursued policies which officials boasted that they were in ‘national interest’ and essential forPakistan’s survival and prosperity; but those policies were reversed later on in the name of ‘national interest’. The gentleman who had ‘askari background’ (military background) was not happy with my remarks,but he accepted my criticism with smile (and Musharraf government must get credit for creating this environment where criticism is tolerated).
He said those decisions were related to foreign affairs, and decisions related to foreign affairs do change with time. In his view Kashmir issue was in ‘national interest’ of Pakistan, and so were nuclear assets.
Of course as an individual and as a senior official he has every right to hold that opinion, but in view of many well wishers of Pakistan, it is in Pakistan’s national interest to revise its Kashmir policy and resolve the dispute through a process of dialogue by involving the genuine Kashmiri leadership in the process.
It is also in Pakistan’s national interest that Kashmir is not divided and no attempt is made to find a military solution. Pakistani policy makers know well that at no cost India will hand over Kashmir to Pakistan, and the status quo is not a wise option as it could lead to more problems in future, so it is also in Pakistan’s national interest to see that suffering of the Kashmiri people ends even if that means an independent Kashmir.
Once the Kashmir dispute is out of way then Pakistan can concentrate to tackle other issues which are threatening its existence and holding back its progress. Pakistan is a country with great potential and its geography adds to its importance; and if they can prioritise their policies correctly, Pakistan can effectively tackle challenges of 21st century and still play a leading role in world affairs.
(Writer is a Chairman of JKLF Diplomatic Committee, and author of many books and booklets on Kashmir. He is also a Spokesman of IKA. Dr Shabir Choudhry could be contacted on: drshabirchoudhry@gmail.com)