Lynchpin of Permanent Peace

By Ibn-e-Rehmat There is famous Benjamin Franklin statement “for want of a nail, the shoe was lost, for want of shoe, the horse was lost, for horse, the rider was lost, for want of rider, the battle and kingdom was lost” Similarly

for peace in Afghanistan, OBL was lost, for OBL, President Bush was lost, for Bush, the Republican lost, for Obama, its most allied ally Pakistan may lost, in the illusive chase for peace. In short, what all we are missing is pragmatism or reality which nobody is inclined to reconcile. If the US is really interested in peace in the region or Afghanistan, resolving Kashmir issue ranks supreme among all other options – which India or the global players are reluctant to acknowledge the fact.

Besides, a number of other key factors involving human activity on multiple ends and destinations, human ambitions continuously remain focused around two major objectives, pursuit for their success to translate their wisdom into reality and self-defence or resistance against injustice and exploitation. Suppose, if NATO forces withdraw from Afghanistan today, the seeds of agitation will continue to germinate endemic violence, which is linked directly and indirectly to a number of factors, mostly converging on the core issue of Kashmir. Or else, against security forces’ torture, injustice and other tools of aggression or coercion against Kashmiris/other weak neighbors by India. To fulfill the dream of a durable and permanent peace in South Asia, the cauldron of this flash-point awfully demands a fair and just solution of this simmering problem.

Security forces actions are product of many ground realities, brewed after prolonged deliberate efforts to reap the benefits or direct the winds to reap the whirlwinds. Political pundits argue that violence is total sum of many irritants or heart-burns like injustice, poor governances, disparities, ideological differences, clash of interests and pent up anger. Kashmir is no exception. India intends to grab it like Junagadh state. Her leaders claim that Kashmir is its Atutung(in-evitable) organ which if vivisected would lead to slide, to let the other 500 erstwhile independent princely states to raise their legitimate claims over their lost political status. Take for example, the case of seven states of North East, where more than 70 active freedom fighting movements are already active and their guerrillas are pitted against Indian forced occupation. The people of Northeast claim that they are not Indian by virtue of their origin, religion, language, history and culture. Nagaland and Assam insurgencies are classical examples that have shaken the Indian Union. Very few people know that more than seven hundred thousand security personnel are deployed there, are equipped with most sophisticated weapons and most draconian laws like Armed Forces Special Power act that empowers them impunity against killing or injuring, by even the Jawans without any legitimate clue. An area, which is connected with India through a narrow passage of more or less 29-km chicken-neck corridor that was never part of India in the past.

The Kashmir issue beeps on the global radar screen for a number of reasons particularly, the firm resolve of its people to have right of self-determination, revive the glory of their past Islamic culture, enjoy the fruits of freedom, yoke off serfdom and slavery and the bonhomie of religious and historical past with Muslims of Pakistan. While, India continues to boil with the poor plight of its 80% minorities like Dalits, Tamils, Sikhs, Meities of Manipur, Tripuras, Sikhs, Gurkhas, Dravidians, Bengalis, Nagas, Mizoes and hundreds of others, who want to throw off the imperialistic fretters at all costs. Unfortunately, their cause remained un-noticed due to poor plight, leadership dilemma or the highhandedness, over-whelming attitude and weight of bureaucratic clouts by the affluent Hindus.

According to Indians, these insurgencies are expected to gain momentum, if the Kashmiri succeed in their freedom struggle – that will set an example for others to take the cue from their cause. The spill over effect of Northeast freedom movements is already a source of concern for all its neighbors like Myanmar, Pakistan, Bhutan, Nepal, China and Bangladesh. Even the European and Americans, too, see the Nagaland and Mizoram’s case with serious HR violations as more than 85% population of these two states are Christian who have solid support bases and their tentacles all over the world see Christian prosecution, every now and then with serious concerns.

According to some think tanks, Kashmir is a flashpoint in the world between two nuclear rivals where dream of a durable and permanent peace appears a far-cry. It is closely linked to the much-orchestrated dream of peace and prosperity of Afghanistan as well due to cross border movements and religious affinities. If we study the historical, religious, political and cultural background of this region, spanning over centuries, troubles in Afghanistan, used to be symbolic or symptomatic. In case of any change in New Delhi on the cards, Kabul used to act like seismic or tectonic plates that turned emperors or kings/Maharajas of India in tail-spin every now and then. The Kashmir had always been an important link in the peace-matrix for its geo-strategic realities. It would be a nothing but a wishful thinking, which the western particularly American should pay due attention. As long as the wounds inflicted by Indian instruments of violence, hegemonic and expansionist designs and interference in its neighboring countries continue, its trans-border spill-over effects, for feeling the pains or pangs by their sympathizers, loyalists or humanitarian sensitivities will continue to raise the political temperature in the region.

Till the time India finds some plausible and permanent solution of the problem, peace cannot be materialized. According to them, the claims and counter-claims, action and reaction syndrome, is breeding violence. No less important are other factors, such as propaganda warfare, provision of sanctuaries to the absconders, piracy of water, gun-running, arms-race and arm-twisting which lend their support foment such insurgencies or freedom movements. If some one tries to dig out the political groups, religious and linguistic diversities and hostilities now vying against their powerful Brahman domination gain threshold capability, India may fall apart into more than a dozen sub-nation states. The grievances of more than four thousand minorities with different ethnic, language, religious and cultural background form the bed-rock of identities and freedom movements. The case of Untouchable or `Other Backward Classes’ (OBCs) against the discriminatory caste apartheid attitude of Brahmans is a bleeding wound and a stigma on the face of these oppressed minorities is in the wings to gain prominence in the future.

Another worst feature which has added to these worries of India is growing Naxalite problem. The battle b/w affluent Brahmans versus OBCs, to snatch their bread and butter and livelihood are posing a major risk to the peace co-existence in India. To heal their sense of deprivation they have united under the umbrella of Maoist ideology – a Communist block that has long history of prejudice and malice against upper class landlord Hindus oligarchy. Like Kashmir cause, there are many other live or active volcanoes that can erupt at some stage like Khalistan Movement, Independent Bengal, Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Meghalaya, Tamil Nados freedom fighter groups.

As a mater of fact, Kashmir freedom fighters’ struggle is acting as a source of inspiration, a torch bearing to light the ray of hope, a roll model for the down trodden and deprived classes. It is this cause, which keeps on beeping on the international radar screen for addressing the Indian atrocities and seeking permanent solution of the HR violations. It is signal to the world to identify the real motives and actions as against proclaimed rhetoric or self-praises. This is movement that is yardstick to gauge the success or failure of diplomacy with vicious political gimmicks. It is generating ripples of dissonance, divergence, dissimilarities, dilemma and devastations, dogging regional peace. Till the core issue of Kashmir is resolved permanently, no permanent solution of the problem would be effective to deliver its peace dividends.
About Writer Mr. By Ibn-e-Rehmat is a Prof of Quaid-e-Azam University Islamabad.

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