Kashmiris need to change their mindset, Dr Shabir
Choudhry
27 March 2014
Even America, Russia and China with huge military power have only one
Commander in Chief each; whereas Pakistani sponsored militancy produced 150
Commanders in Chief in the Kashmir Valley in 1990. At the peak of militancy in
1990/91 there were 150 militant groups, each group had a Pakistani gun,
Pakistani bullets and Pakistani training to fight the Indians (although some
chose to settle personal scores against each other). Many militant groups had
no more than ten militants, but they still needed a Commander in Chief, a few
weeks of training in Pakistan, some guns, bullets and money; and Pakistani
agencies generously provided all that.
This militancy which some Kashmiri people still claim that it was
started to liberate Kashmir (although those who masterminded that say their aim
was to keep India engaged in Kashmir) has also produced tens of thousands of
graves, thousands of widows, thousands of orphans, thousands of disable and
dishonoured men, women, and children; not to mention social evils and some millionaires.
It is sad that innocent people of Jammu and Kashmir had to endure all
that in name of independence since 1988/9, whereas those who started this had
other objectives in mind. Their plan was not to liberate Kashmir but to use
people of Kashmir to advance their agenda; and some sections of Jammu and
Kashmir became victims of this proxy war.
It is painful to note that we people of Jammu and Kashmir still have not
learnt anything from this tragedy and suffering. There are still many who claim
it was their struggle, and Pakistan is their well wisher, despite the fact that
some Pakistani Generals, writers, analysts and historians have time and again
said that the aim of militancy was not to liberate Kashmir.
Most Commanders in Chief of the Kashmiri struggle were uneducated
(someone with Matriculation cannot be considered as an educated man) and did
not attend any staff college to complete war studies, yet these militants make
lofty claims. Let us see what Lt General Shahid Aziz of Pakistan army, a man
who had a remarkable career in the Pakistan army has to say about the Kashmiri
militancy.
Like other military officers, Lt General Shahid Aziz also studied at
very prestigious military institution. While at the National Defence
University, Islamabad, in a debate on the topic of Pakistan’s Kashmir policy he
criticised the policy and was perceived as a man who has lost his mind. After
retiring he wrote a book titled, ‘Ye Khamoshi Kahn Tak’ – meaning - This
silence for how long.
‘What kind of policy is this, that in order to get the enemy (Indian)
army entangled (in Kashmir) we spill the Kashmiri blood? Is there an end to
this jihad? Is this to get some result, or this is to just keep India engaged
there?’ 1
These are words of a man who served the Pakistan army for many years,
and held very important and sensitive posts during his long and prestigious
service. He believed that the Pakistani policy in Kashmir was not to ‘liberate
Kashmir’, but to keep India engaged there. Result of this policy was that innocent
people of Jammu and Kashmir were suffering.
On the other hand some Kashmiri collaborators still try to fool people
by saying that Pakistan is our ‘elder brother’, ‘our advocator’ and ‘well
wisher’. They still tell innocent people of Jammu and Kashmir that Pakistani
strategy will liberate them; and that Pakistan is the only country which
supports their struggle? Question is which struggle? Pakistani strategy,
according to Lt General Shahid Aziz and many others is to keep the Indian army
engaged in Kashmir; and not to liberate Kashmir.
The price of this selfish and erroneous Pakistani policy is that tens of
thousands of Kashmiri people have lost their lives, many women have been raped
and still many people are unaccounted for. For how long more are we are going
to be sacrificed in name of elder brother and Muslim brotherhood? While
commenting on situation of Pakistan, General Shahid Aziz wrote:
‘Sometime I thought for whom we should save this country. What kind of
independence is this where only the powerful and rich people were independent;
where justice is for sale; where exploitation (of the poor) and corruption has
become an art; where concept of independence was only on a paper’. 2
Lt General Shahid Aziz narrates a story which explains the thinking of
the Pakistani elite about future of Pakistan:
One officer told him that his son went to a school where children of
elite studied. Once Pakistan Air Force jets flew over Islamabad, after hearing
thundering of jets, one child said war has started and these were Indian jet
fighters. Another child said these were Pakistani jets and war has not started.
Teacher asked how could you be so sure because you are in the classroom. The
boy confidently said, my father said if war started, we will all leave Pakistan.
Because we are still in Pakistan, it means the war has not started. 3
It is clear that the ruling elite of Pakistan do not feel Pakistan has a
great future. Different Muslim sects in name of religion are up in arms and are
killing each other. Be they be masjids, shrines, churches, temples, hotels,
shopping centres, police stations, army camps and offices of security agencies,
they are all legitimate targets of these extremists. When bloody civilians die
only statements of regret are issued; but when men in uniform are killed
Pakistani jet fighters get in action and they also kill people, whether they
are culprits or some other people.
Top Pakistani leaders and senior members of the elite have nearly all
their investments outside Pakistan because they feel it is not safe to invest
in their own country. Most of them have nationalities of other countries; and
if situation gets out of hand they can leave the country within hours.
How ironic, that despite this thinking of the Pakistani elite and
disappointing economic, political and security situation, some Pakistanis and
Kashmiris urge that people of Jammu and Kashmir should join Pakistan. Don’t get
me wrong, I have nothing against Pakistan or the Pakistani people. However,
interest of Pakistan is not my first priority; my priority is interest of
people of Jammu and Kashmir. I honestly believe that Princely State of Jammu
and Kashmir must be united and become independent; and that is in the best
interest of India, Pakistan, people of Jammu and Kashmir, and for the peace and
stability of the region.
I honestly believe joining Pakistan will be a big blunder, as Pakistan
has nothing to offer to us. In any case, Pakistan after 67 long years is still
fighting for its survival; and still trying to find its identity. Still there
is a debate going on in Pakistan, why Pakistan was created; and no one feels
safe in Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
How can anyone with common sense and welfare of the Kashmir people in
mind even suggest that we should become part of this society? Pakistanis and
Indians have every right to protect and promote their national interests; and
we people of Jammu and Kashmir must protect Kashmiri interests.
We have to change this mindset that one country is enemy and the other
is a big brother and well wisher. We people of Jammu and Kashmir must
understand that India and Pakistan are our neighbours and not our masters. Both
want to get Jammu and Kashmir; and welfare and independence is not their
priority. Once we understand this, then it will be easy to formulate a
practical policy that will help us to promote a Kashmiri interest and
References:
1. ‘Ye Khamoshi Kahn Tak’ – meaning - This silence for how long, page 177
2. Ibid, page 178
3. Ibid, page 178
Writer is a political analyst and author of many books and booklets.
Also he is Director Institute of Kashmir Affairs
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