Wednesday 6 March 2019

Cross Border Terrorism, Religious Fundamentalism and Human Rights in divided State of Jammu and Kashmir. Speech of Dr Shabir Choudhry


Cross Border Terrorism, Religious Fundamentalism and Human Rights in divided State of Jammu and Kashmir.

Presentation by Dr Shabir Choudhry in a conference held in Lubjana, Slovenia on 4 March 2019, which was arranged by Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in European Parliament.

Mr Chairman, friends and colleagues peace and blessing on all of you.

On behalf of people of  divided Jammu and Kashmir State, I want to say: We want a right to life. We request India and Pakistan, please don’t kill us. I hope that is not too much to ask.

Terrorism and foreign armed interference in Jammu and Kashmir is not new. We were first attacked on 22 October 1947. The country responsible for that aggression camouflaged their intentions in name of Islam and jihad. Their aim was to capture Jammu and Kashmir in name of Islam; and to satisfy their lust for more territory and resources they violated a written agreement, which is totally against the Islamic teaching.

Sadly, the religious terrorism, which they started in 1947, still continues in different shapes and forms. Over the past decades they have mastered the art of promoting extremism, religious hatred, intolerance and establishing terrorist infrastructure so successfully that the international community and various international bodies appear to be unsuccessful in stopping them.

Various countries are victims of terrorism; and there is consensus that all countries have a right to use force to fight and eradicate terrorism. India also has this right. However, there could be a question if India and other countries, including Pakistan, use force proportionately or not.

Critics say India’s reaction, especially in Kashmir is disproportionate; and it results in human rights abuses, which no one can support. Pakistan is also accused of using force importunately in various parts of Pakistan and areas of Jammu and Kashmir under their control, but unlike India, Pakistan is more careful as they leave no trace behind, as no media is allowed, and no civilians are permitted to make photos or videos like it happens in Kashmir.

However, I condemn human rights abuses whether they take place in Pakistan, India or in a territory of Jammu and Kashmir under their respective controls. I urge both countries to respect fundamental rights of all citizens.

Mr Chairman

Topic of today’s Conference is Cross Border Terrorism. While acknowledging that cross LOC, and cross border terrorism takes place, which more than once brought India and Pakistan close to a nuclear war, I want to add that over the past decades they have established their tentacles inside Jammu and Kashmir and inside India proper.

This means  those who sponsor terrorism, no longer have to rely on their own citizens to commit acts of terrorism. They have stored sufficient weapons and other materials there that their trained men can recruit local people to commit acts of terrorism whenever it suits them.

The Pulwama suicide terrorist attack, is just one example. A local teenager, Adil Ahmed Dar, was radicalised and recruited by Pakistani based terrorist group Jaish e Mohammed, and in his suicide attack 49 para military men lost their lives, and many were seriously injured. The attack was proudly claimed by Jaish e Mohammed.

A few days before the Pulwama attack, another terrorist group, Jaish ul Adel, which also allegedly has bases in Pakistan committed act of terrorism in Sistan in Iran. This attack killed 27 Iranian Revolutionary Guards. The
Iranian President, Hassan Rouhani, was so annoyed that he said:

‘unless Pakistan did more to crack down on Jaish al-Adl, Iran would take action it deemed appropriate’.
In line with the jihadi suicide bomber’s tradition, the Pulwama suicide attacker, recorded a video message and claimed that he was a member of Jaish e Mohammed. He bravely accepted responsibility for this attack; and proudly said by time you have access to this video, I will be in Heaven.
Despite this hard evidence, the Pakistani government and the entire Pakistani media said, there is no evidence; and if there was some credible evidence, then Pakistan would take action against the Jaish e Mohammed.
In this deadly attack, forensic experts believe at least 20 kg RDX was used. I know that RDX does not grow on trees. Indian experts believe that this RDX was provided by Pakistan. The government of Pakistan denies this allegation.

Ajit Doval, India’s National Security Adviser, spoke to John Bolton, his counterpart in America. John Bolton accepted India’s right “to defend itself against cross-border attacks.”

Furthermore, he assured Ajit Doval that America will provide its cooperation, and I quote:
“to work together to ensure that Pakistan ceased to be a safe haven for JEM and terrorist groups that targeted India, the US and others in the region.” 1

China has banned Chinese Muslims to practise Islam and have rounded up nearly a million Muslims, and have kept them in camps to ‘re educate’ and harmonise their ideology in line with Beijing’s thinking. Despite this oppression, the Saudi Crown Prince during his visit to China asserted, and I quote:

“Saudi Arabia firmly adheres to the one-China policy. We respect and support China’s rights to take counter-terrorism and de-extremism measures to safeguard national security. We stand ready to strengthen cooperation with China.” Un quote.

In return, to reciprocate the goodwill gesture, the Chinese Premier also reinforced their contention that:
“The two sides should promote counter-terrorism cooperation in the Middle East, strengthen international de-extremism cooperation and prevent the spread and infiltration of extremism.” 2

Like other countries, America was also concerned with this unprovoked attack and subsequent growing tension and hostilities. Michael Pompeo, the US Secretary of State spoke to the Indian counterpart to emphasize close security partnership and shared goal of maintaining peace and security in the region.’

Also he spoke to Shah Mahmood Qureshi to underscore the priority of de-escalating current tensions by avoiding military action, and the urgency of Pakistan taking meaningful action against terrorist groups operating on its soil.’ 3

The UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres also condemned this terrorist act. His spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said, and I quote:

"We strongly condemn today's attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district and express our deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and to the government and people of India."

Like other countries, China was also not happy with this attack, and told it’s so called ‘all weather friend’ to de – escalate. This means, on the issue of this terrorist act, no one in the world was on the Pakistani side; and they all urged Pakistan to take immediate action against these non – state actors.

Mr Chairman

Million dollar question is, will Pakistan take a serious action against their strategic assets, and eradicate terrorist infrastructure?

Answer is yes and no.

We have been on this crossroad before. Each time when they have serious economic, political and diplomatic pressure, they promise to take meaningful actions to eradicate the terrorist infrastructure. They take some cosmetic actions, move their strategic assets to new locations; and when the pressure dissipates, they resort to their old tricks.

One Pakistani writer, TV anchor and journalist, Mubashir Zaidi tweeted:
‘ACT NOW. It should be our government’s priority now to act against Jasih e Mohammed and Jaish Ul Adel before the world turns against us completely. These organisations have damaged Pakistan’s Kashmir cause and brotherly relations with Iran.’

There are many other sane voices in Pakistan, which promote fundamental rights for all and promote peace, tolerance and regional stability. Sadly these people are castigated as ‘anti Pakistan’, un ‘patriotic’ and ‘friends of India’.

Whoever, promotes peace and stability in South Asia, and brotherly relations with all neighbours is targeted by the authorities and their proxies, which sadly are growing in numbers.

Anyone who promotes extremism, terrorism, violence, religious hatred, and intolerance soon becomes a darling of the establishment and extremists. He/she is promoted as patriotic, pious Muslim and generously rewarded.

Situation of right of expression and freedom in Pakistan and areas of Jammu and Kashmir under their control is so bad that ‘Freedom House in its report ‘Freedom in the World 2019’, concludes that even people of ‘Indian Kashmir’ have more freedom than people of Pakistan.

Freedom score for the US was 86,
For India it was 75,
For Pakistan it was 39,
For ‘Indian Kashmir’ it was 43
For ‘Pakistani Kashmir’ it was 28. 4

Is that not cause of concern for the people of Pakistan, and people of Jammu and Kashmir, especially people of so called Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan?

Those who sponsor terrorism and extremism claim they are doing all this in the best interests of Muslims. In a reply to that, I want to ask sponsors of terrorism, what good have you done to Muslims by Pulwama suicide attack?

This act was committed to promote extremism, intolerance and religious hatred, and erect walls of animosity to justify the redundant Two Nations Theory that Muslims and Hindus cannot live together in a same country. 

We share the view of those who think this act is part of a proxy war to advance Pakistan’s strategic agenda; and to make Kashmir part of Pakistan. Clearly, this cannot be called right of self - determination or a freedom struggle.

Acts like this are clearly against interests of citizens of Jammu and Kashmir, and against their peaceful struggle for unification and independence of Jammu and Kashmir. The planners of this terrorist act wanted to divide people of Jammu and Kashmir on religious lines in order to pave way for the permanent division of the former Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir.

Mr Chairman, in conclusion, I want to add that this and other acts of terrorism are against Islamic teaching, and are designed to harm Muslims, as lives of millions of Kashmiris and Indian Muslims and their properties become potential targets. Also, they endanger liberty and dignity of Muslim women; and Muslim students suffer in various places. Frequent hostilities between both countries along the LOC also result in suffering of people of Jammu and Kashmir, including Muslims.

We want peace, politically stability and prosperity in Jammu and Kashmir. But how can you have peace when guns are roaring from both sides.

Thank you Mr Chairman

Writer is a renowned writer and author of many books. He is also President Foreign Affairs Committee of UKPNP; and Chairman South Asia Watch, London.
Email: Drshabirchoudhry@gmail.com       Twitter:  @Drshabir

Reference:

1.    Imran Yawer, former Ambassador of Pakistan Daily Times, February 18th 2019.
2.    Times of Islamabad, 25 Feb 2019



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