Some call it “disputed territory”. We call it our territory. The neighbouring country claims it their land staking claim to it even in the international fora like UN. Neither this country nor that country, it belongs to ‘US’ and it will be ‘OURS’ – some are cocksure about it.
The debate, the conflict dates back to 1947. More than six decades. Since then the land renowned for its scenic beauty worldwide is in turmoil experiencing violent clashes between different contenders leading to much bloodshed, loss of innocent lives, army men and destruction of properties almost on a daily basis. The land bore the brunt of three wars aggravating the intensity to the maximum.
Still the land is simmering. Despite slew of measures initiated and adopted by the rulers of both nations nothing fruitful was/is forthcoming. Whenever the leaders sit across the table to bring peace to both sides, a temporary respite comes into force, yes only a temporary respite, then another bout of militant attacks upsetting everyone’s calculations and dreams strike at unexpected locations leading both countries trading charges and baring teeth, with the victimized nation pledging to retaliate vowing to teach the rival nation a lesson. The stalled dialogue between the two nations continues to be in limbo for an unpredicted period and after the dust of rivalry settles down, an offer of dialogue by one country to settle disputes gains momentum and with the acceptance of dialogue by the counterpart, another round begins.
A never ending cycle of dialogues, attacks, again dialogues, then again attacks – this rivalry is a perennial one. The suffering lot are innocent citizens of the accursed land as they are always wont to, also the faceless peace loving citizens of the nation as also those across the world.
Yasin Malik, leader of JKLF for an independent Jammu & Kashmir, Mirwaiz Omar Farooq, leader of the moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference for a middle path between complete autonomy and independence of J&K, Sayed Ali Shah Gilani leader of the militant faction of Hurriyat Conference who is incidentally an unabashed supporter of Pakistan fighting for the secession of Jammu & Kashmir and for annexation of it to Pakistan. The ‘core issue’- these words are very dear to the Retd General Parvez Musharaff, the former military ruler of Pakistan- of Jammu & Kashmir has to be solved as a first step in the right direction for establishing durable peace and security to the volatile region as far as Pakistan rulers are concerned.
Yes, this ‘core issue’ is/was the bone of contention between the two nations from the very outset.
The other three or four mainstream parties are Indian National Congress (the Grand Old Party of India), National Conference headed by Farooq Abdullah and his son Omar Abdullah, Peoples’ Democratic Party headed by Mufti Mohammed Sayed and his daughter Mehbooba Mufti, Bharatiya Janata Party headed by L.K.Advani and Rajnath Singh.
As long as Kashmir remains a ‘core issue’ between the two nations a solution seems a distant dream for all of us Indians. India always claims it an integral part of the nation and to establish the claim before the world, is determined to go to any great lengths. Pakistan, on the other hand is determined not to allow India sleep peacefully as long as India keeps the land a part of it. Besides the rulers of Pakistan, the militant units operating from its soil sneak into J&K with the overt and covert support of the military and engage in throwing bombs, grenades and mercilessly kill people, firing from VVIPs at the top to the lower strata of the society at the bottom – disturbing the already volatile region.
Wither Kashmir? How long our rulers force peace in the land dealing heavy blows on disparate elements? Remember – six decades, three wars, peace initiatives, once in a while, inspite of all these we are back to square one. All are back to square one.
The news reports of rape and murder of women, people falling prey to bullets at different locations in the Kashmir valley and also violent protests led by different political parties as also by citizens are distressing to say the least. And these reports serve as feed to the neighbouring country to rake in incessant troubles to India paving the way for waging relentless attacks in the valley of Kashmir and elsewhere in cahouts with militant outfits operating from across the border. Repression of revolts either by military or paramilitary forces ultimately serves as fuels to the simmering cauldron of enmities between the two nations for the last six decades.
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