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:
2.
Times of Islamabad, 25 Feb
2019
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