Why Pakistani establishment is afraid of white flag? Dr Shabir Choudhry

Why Pakistani establishment is afraid of white flag?

Dr Shabir Choudhry    20 March 2018

Pakistani establishment sells this narrative that they are world’s number one army; and their secret agency is also number one. Even though Pakistan has not won any war against its arch enemy, India, still there are many people of Jammu and Kashmir, who not only agree with this narrative; they have also become salesmen of Islamabad to sell this narrative which has no foundations.

Armies which are professional; and worth their salt do not surrender, like Pakistan did in 1971, when more than 90,000 men surrendered. The professional armies successfully defend their borders; and do not indulge themselves in toppling the civilian governments. Also, they do not act as business enterprise controlling many aspects of country’s economy, including housing societies.

Leaving aside professionalism of ‘world’s number one army’; I want to assert that the Pakistani establishment finds it difficult to manage peace. They can manage instability, violence and terrorism; but for some reason, they are afraid of peace, harmony and benevolence.

They like to violate agreements; and use proxies to advance their agenda; and some experts, among them are Pakistanis, claim that they use violence as a foreign policy tool.

It is sad that they were the first country to attack my motherland, Jammu and Kashmir, even though Pakistan had a written agreement with the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir. In this jihad against the Jammu and Kashmir, which started on 22 October 1947, Pakistani sponsored warriors killed tens of thousands of innocent citizens of Jammu and Kashmir. They looted and plundered our country. They kidnapped and raped our women; and still claim that they went there to help us; and sadly, many innocent citizens of Jammu and Kashmir believe their narrative.

Tell me why I should not be angry with imperialist actions of Pakistan. It was their ill planned and unprovoked attack on my motherland that resulted in forced division of Jammu and Kashmir State. As a direct result of the Pakistani attack, the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir was forced to seek help from India; which was only provided after the beleaguered Ruler signed the Instrument of Accession, which in my opinion, is still provisional and has to be ratified by the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

I am also angry with India, because India failed to honour obligations it assumed under the ‘Provisional Accession’, India has failed to protect life and liberty of the people. It is not my responsibility to protect life of people and maintain peace and stability in Jammu and Kashmir.

The root cause of all our problems lie in that attack which started on 22 October 1947. Jammu and Kashmir has not seen peace after that. We want peace, and we deserve it. Whenever there are chances of establishing peace, Pakistan either dishonour agreements, as they did by not withdrawing troops in accordance with the UNSC Resolutions; or they send proxy warriors to disrupt the peace process like they did in 1965, 1988 and in 1998.

Unfortunately, Pakistani establishment thrives on policies of extremism, terrorism, violence and intolerance. Peace DOES NOT suit them. Anyone who promotes policies of peace and coexistence is perceived as an enemy of the State. Sardar Shaukat Kashmiri, Chairman of UKPNP, while talking to me said:

‘Reaction of Farooq Haider, Prime Minister of so called Azad Kashmir is evidence that he and his political masters in Islamabad don’t like peace. They don’t mind if we wave flags of our parties, but they reacted very strongly when we waved white flags along the LOC indicating that we want peace; and protested against India and Pakistan exchange of fire on the LOC, in which our people suffer on both sides of the divide’.

 
It was pleasure to note that all parties of ‘Azad Kashmir’ can unite on important issues. They all joined the protest, which demanded peace and end to cross LOC hostilities by India and Pakistan, which only adds to our problems. The Pakistani establishment and their proxies in ‘Azad Kashmir’ did not like the white flag and this unity, hence reaction of Farooq Haider. Peace in Jammu and Kashmir is bad for economic interests of some people.

Pakistan, as a country was established after creating religious hatred and communal unrest. Rationale of this theory was that Muslims and Hindus cannot live in the same country. So, it was imperative to divide the communities who lived together for centuries. How ironic that once India and the Muslims of India were divided, causing death and destruction and hatred, people were told that now you can live as Muslims and Hindus in the same country.

Even after the creation of Pakistan and separation of East Pakistan from the rest of Pakistan, policy makers of Islamabad thought it was essential to keep on advancing policies of extremism and religious hatred. For this purpose, many extreme right wing parties were funded, armed and promoted.

For so called ‘guardians’ of the Two Nations theory, it is fundamental to their survival that they keep on justifying the division of India on religious lines, forgetting that Muslim of East Pakistan separated from West Pakistan because of inequality and injustice.

These policy makers want Kashmir (to them Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan are already in their pocket) to join Pakistan on the basis of religion. Any narrative that challenges policies of Islamabad is seen as a threat to Pakistan and Islam.

In this context, UKPNP’s announcement to observe 16 March as a national day was perceived as a direct threat to the policies of Islamabad. Despite counter narrative on the importance of 16 March in history of Jammu and Kashmir, many citizens of Jammu and Kashmir believe it was on this day foundations of Jammu and Kashmir State were laid down.

However, due to religious intolerance some people with cap of nationalism demand the State that existed on 15 August 1947, but are not prepared to acknowledge contribution of the Dogra dynasty in establishing and maintaining this state. It was the Dogra rule which gave us a recognition of belonging to the Jammu and Kashmir State; and gave us clearly defined boundaries of our motherland.

To add to the worries of the establishment, the JKLF also announced the protest on 16^th March. As noted above, this protest was supported by nearly all the nationalist parties. The policy makers of Islamabad got alarmed that counter narrative has potential to hinge people of Jammu and Kashmir to 16^th March; and in future this could challenge their hegemony on ideological matters.

The establishment felt that their favourites were on the downward slide. They encouraged them to take the initiative that their credibility could be rehabilitated among the masses.

Frustration of Islamabad’s puppet in Islamabad was visible and daunting. In my view, he was not under influence of any drug when he used foul language against founder of the Jammu and Kashmir State; and against ardent supporters of united and independent Jammu and Kashmir. He appeared to me as a frightened man. A man who was furiously admonished by his masters. He had to express his annoyance to prove to his masters that he will control the situation.

All this indicates that Islamabad and their foot soldiers are fast losing credibility. Bitter fact is that they are fighting a losing better. It is still not too late to respect aspirations of the people of so called Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan; and grant them full autonomy.

Writer is a renowned writer and author of many books. He is also a leader of UKPNP and Chairman South Asia Watch, London.

Email: Drshabirchoudhry@gmail.com       Twitter:  @Drshabir