Pakistan’s Kashmir policy and options of
Kashmiri nationalists
Dr Shabir Choudhry 13 September 2015
For decades Pakistani
governments have successfully fooled people of Jammu and Kashmir in believing
that Pakistan is their big brother, well wisher and an advocate. Although a lot
of people now understand the game plan of Pakistani establishment, but still
there are many who are infatuated by ‘love of Pakistan’; and religious
compassion.
Bitter facts
India is responsible
for human rights abuses in Kashmir and rightly criticised. However, is it not
fact that Pakistan violated the Standstill Agreement and attacked Jammu and
Kashmir territory on 22 October 1947 with intention of occupying it? This Pakistani
led unprovoked aggression resulted in deaths of tens of thousands of innocent
Kashmiris, and rapes of Kashmiri women; and subsequent forced division of Jammu
and Kashmir State?
Is it not fact that
Pakistan changed Kashmiri people’s right of self determination into right of
accession to India or Pakistan? Is it not true that Pakistan refused to
withdraw her troops as demanded by the UN Resolution of 13 August 1948; and
ensured that the status quo continues, hence perpetuation of our suffering.
They were clever to propagate that India has refused to implement the UN
Resolutions, and fooled many people for very long time.
Also is it not fact
that Pakistan signed Simla Agreement with India and deprived people of Jammu
and Kashmir any role in determining the future status of Kashmir; but cleverly
continue to fool people by saying that Kashmir Resolutions should be
implemented.
Is it not a fact that
Pakistan is treating Pakistan Administered Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan as
their colonies? They have puppets in both respective parts who protect rights
of Islamabad, and in return they are rewarded and projected as leaders; just
like the British rewarded their puppets during the British Raj.
Patriotism and sedition
A Pakistani writer
Farrukh Khan Pitafi defined patriotism in the following words: ‘In my humble view, patriotism
is nothing but love. Love for your homeland, love for your country. Just like I have a
sense of ownership for my house, which leads me to ensure its safety and
betterment. I feel the same loyalty towards my country’. 1
It is debatable how
many Pakistanis are loyal Pakistanis and work for the betterment of Pakistan.
However, if Pakistanis have a right to love their country and work for its
betterment; the same right should be available to the people of Jammu and
Kashmir. If we love our forcibly divided country call Jammu and Kashmir, is
that a crime?
For loving and
caring for our country, and working for its betterment, why people of so called
Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan have to face sedition charges and wrath of
Pakistani agencies, especially when we are not part of Pakistan. In Gilgit
Baltistan more than 100 people are facing sedition charges, and people are
deprived of their fundamental rights.
Over the past months
and years the Pakistani establishment decided to crush Kashmiri nationalists by
using various tactics. Because of these tactics, some nationalists compromised
their political positions too easily and they accepted the rewards. Some others
gave - in to threats and became collaborators.
Arif Shahid was
eliminated and his killers are not arrested yet. Many analysts believe it was a
test case for Kashmiri nationalists. Killers wanted to see response and
resilience of the Kashmiri nationalists. Those who thought Kashmiri
nationalists will use this brutal killing to start a campaign, or at least,
unite on one platform to fight back the forces of occupation was deeply
disappointed.
Kashmir National
Party and UKPNP individually and in cooperation with each other highlighted the
plight of Kashmiri people and brutal killing of Arif Shahid in POK and at the
international level including at the UN Human Rights Sessions in Geneva. Some
other parties also expressed their anger and tried to motivate people, but
without much success. The Party Arif Shahid belonged to could not even survive
as a political unit never mind mustering any political support for the cause of
the deceased leader.
The Pakistani
establishment soon realised that claims and rhetoric apart, the Kashmiri
nationalists are not in a position to challenge their designs on Kashmir. So in
line with their considered policy they started intimidating Kashmiri
nationalists who were only spearheading a peaceful struggle for their
independence. The establishment started harassing true nationalists. Also they
started banning books which exposed their designs. They didn’t want people to
know true history of Jammu and Kashmir, and what Pakistani officials had done
to Kashmir dispute, and how they deprived people of their fundamental rights.
All this is clearly against Pakistani constitution and the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Article 19 (2), which states:
Everyone shall have
the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek,
receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers,
either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other
media of his choice.’
Apart from that,
Pakistani officials are clearly violating rights given to people of so called
Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan under the UN Resolutions; but anyone who
remind Pakistan of its obligations under the UNCIP Resolution a bitter campaign
of McCarthyism is initiated against that person to make him defensive and to
alienate him from others. This unreasonable and unjustified policy will harm
Pakistan in the long run.
Pakistani army DOES NOT
consist of angels that they are above criticism, especially when people of
Jammu and Kashmir perceive them as forces of occupation. Apart from that, their
deeds in East Pakistan, Balochistan, various parts of KPK, FATA, and Gilgit
Baltistan etc are still fresh in minds of the people.
In view of this, what wrong
did JKLF activist Chaudhry Abdul Razaq did when he criticised Pakistan army and
questioned their role in POK? We people of Jammu and Kashmir have every right
to question and criticise roles of Indian, Pakistani and Chinese armies
stationed in various parts of Jammu Kashmir State. Why Chaudhry Abdul Razaq has
been charged for ‘insulting’ Pakistan army? Since when Pakistan army has become
a holy cow that one cannot criticise its role in an area occupied by Pakistan?
Under what law Talat Mahmood
Ansari is arrested, and the poor guy is not even given a bail? Anti Terrorism
laws - what terrorism he has committed? He was employed by Kashar Publishers and
his crime is to compose a book that was disliked by the Pakistani establishment.
And under what law Rafiq Khawaja’s shops were sealed, and books and various
other items taken away?
Kashmiri nationalists under
Pakistan need to analyse the situation; and formulate a strategy to deal with
oppression of Pakistan. People of the Valley have challenged the Indian might
the other side of the divide.
We have two options: either
to give - in to the oppression of Pakistan; or to stand up and be counted.
There is not third option available to them.
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