The Kashmir issue which remained a spot of war, several times for the two neighbouring countries: India and Pakistan. Kashmir has always remained a hot topic of discussion, when the delegations from the two countries meet at any conference held in any part of the globe and it is believed (in Kashmir) that, when the delegations meet and if they don’t discuss Kashmir, the meeting is termed as totally futile.
Britain, when left Hindustan (comprising of undivided India and Pakistan), while dividing it into two countries, left a dispute on a piece of land in between them know as Kashmir, commonly known as Masla-E-Kashmir (Kashmir Issue), throughout the subcontinent and with the passage of time has developed into a wound. Though, India is visibly taking this issue lightly and at certain points, turning to show up the aggressive behaviour towards Kashmir, according to the British MP David Ward
“Indian government has been quite aggressive in terms of its stance towards Kashmir which is opening up a whole new area of uncertainty”
The British Effect:
Indian state is in the state of denial and is not ready to accept the ground realities of the dispute. When Sir Cyril Radcliffe came to India to mark the International boundaries between the newly born two countries (under boundary commission), marked Gurdaspur (in Punjab) into India. Gurdaspur, coming under the authority of India, provided a way to the Indian forces to grab Kashmir. Maharaja Hari Singh (King) of Kashmir had already signed the document of accession with India (Against the will of its subjects). If the basic principles of partition are taken into the consideration, Gurdaspur would have gone into Pakistan and there was no other route connecting India with Kashmir. This grave historical mistake committed by Sir Cyril Radcliffe created the Kashmir dispute on the face of this earth, where as of now 500,000 to 600,000 Indian army troopers are present and from past 60 years or so 500,000 people have died and it was admitted by David Ward when he said that “Kashmir has been a constant sources of misery over many years to many people. 500,000 to 600,000 Indian army troopers are present on permanent basis. It is an area of tension and some 500,000 people have died there in past 60 years or so”
It is now the point of interest that Britain is now showing much interest in resolving the Kashmir issue. In the latest development 40 British MPs, 10 MEPs and 50,000 members of public have signed the petition for holding a debate on the human rights violations in Kashmir and its resolution thereof. However, on the diplomatic front Britain is wearing a different face where it is of the opinion that Kashmir is the bilateral issue between the two countries, but, deep somewhere Britain is now willing to offer its help under the curtain and may be some day it will speak the same language on the diplomatic front in connection to the Kashmir issue.
The Indian Propaganda:
Currently, India is now playing some different tricks, so that it can continue with its occupation. The phenomenon like ISIS is being linked to Kashmir, anyhow. The state is trying to find out the links, which doesn’t exist and is working hard to establish some, in order to strengthen its occupation. It is being propagated by the state Indian media that the situation is getting back to normal with every passing day, and the Kashmiri pro-freedom lobby pressurizing India, for the revocation of existing draconian laws like Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), Public Safety Act (PSA) etc. Now, India is building a notion that the next battle ground for Al-Qaeda, Taliban, and ISIS etc will be Kashmir. Moreover it was said that Kashmiri youths have started to join ISIS. This can be viewed just as the propaganda with defined objectives. The (fathomable) objectives of this propaganda can be: Not to allow the revocation of AFSPA, PSA etc. Increase in already existing huge number of army troops and the main thing is to strengthen the fist of occupation by visualizing to the outer world that in this manner it (Kashmir) can be threat to the entire world, with the organization like Al-Qaeda, Taliban, and ISIS eagerly waiting to enter Kashmir somehow and actually, there exists nothing of this sort. In this visualization their motives and objectives are achieved, which India wants to achieve, by creating an illusion for the outer world, not only for the west, but unfortunately, some Muslim countries have also been caught into the trap of this illusion.
How much effective will be this illusion created by the so called worlds’ largest democracy (India) is the game of time and it demands to wait and watch and what will be the new moves of organizations like ISIS and what will be the next reaction of India in Kashmir, needs to be watched. While, talking about other organizations, they have their defined battle grounds and they will remain confined to that. Moreover, history bears testimony of what became of some Afghans when they came to fight in Kashmir.
Irfan Tramboo is a columnist based in Srinagar (Indian Occupied Kashmir). He writes on the Indo-Pak relations and is following the South Asian conflicts closely. He is also a literary.
