This February 5, the State-ordained ‘Kashmir Day’ makes one reflect on the time before cable television and 24/7 news channels, when the final broadcast of the day on Pakistan Television (PTV) was the 9pm “Khabarnama”. There was a special segment every evening on the atrocities in Jammu and Kashmir. Every evening, it was inescapable. Now, those look like peaceful days, a bit of State propaganda perhaps, but no real war, at least domestically. Yet, there is nothing peaceful about calling for open war; nobody felt the need to deny the support for the Kashmiri ‘Mujhiahdeen’ in those days. The ‘liberation’ of Kashmir was what an entire generation (perhaps generations) was brought up on; the TTP’s ‘liberation’ of Pakistan lay well in a bloody future then. The State’s primary foreign policy imperative was uni-dimensional, ubiquitous and unrelenting, in the mosques, on PTV, in schoolchildren’s textbooks and of course on the ground in Kashmir.
The world changed and we sluggishly and perhaps unwillingly followed; the level of involvement of the ‘Mujhiadeen’ in Kashmir has very significantly dropped, other ‘Mujhiadeen’ have since entered the building and have us in their thrall. The days of Kashmiri ‘freedom fighter’ being sent across the border were simple; the State had a narrative and had engineered societal convergence on the point. The freedom fighters demanded no implementation of Sharia in the heartland; and the land of the pure was the fortress of Islam. ‘Jihad’ was still bloody but a State-controlled enterprise. How far have we and the State come? The TTP attack us on not being ‘Islamic’ enough, for being ‘infidels’; from the Fortress of Islam to being ‘heathens’. This journey has left many, many thousands dead on the way, starting from the sectarian killings of the 1990s to the ongoing tragedy that is the APS Peshawar and Shikarpur.
We are told, APS Peshawar changed everything. We see that it hasn’t. This February 5 like most, belonged to Hafiz Saeed, the JuD, the HuM and friends. The defence put up is that these are pro-Pakistan groups; essentially meaning that they do not attack the Pakistani State or citizens. One can admit for the time being they might not. Yet, the National Action Plan (NAP) is about “zero tolerance for militancy”, is it not? More fundamental is the implicit basic norm of the NAP that violence will not be privatised to militias and the business of governing the state and conducting its foreign policy will not be outsourced to armed, jihadi militias. The key question determining the success or failure of the NAP is: can the business of enforcing ideologies by the use or threat of force be allowed to be conducted or worse delegated to private actors by the Islamic Republic of Pakistan? The answer after this past February 5 is yes.
Jammu and Kashmir has incredible levels of human rights abuses, enforced disappearances, extra-judicial killings, mass graves and repression by the State of India; that is not under dispute. To refresh, one can recommend watching Haider, a very powerful adaptation of Hamlet in modern-day Kashmir; the movie minces no words on the repressive policy of the Indian State in Kashmir and it baffles the mind why the Pakistan censor board decided to ban it in the land of the pure. Our right to highlight and condemn the violations in Jammu and Kashmir is also unexceptionable (please, the argument of look at xyz at home first is not persuasive; that would require one to condemn everything before one condemns anything, etc.). However, why are we obsessed with the ‘Kashmir issue’? Note, we are not really obsessed with the plight of the ‘Kashmiri people’. Kashmir is about politics and it is now about domestic policies and politics. Why is the major advocacy for Kashmir domestic, and done through mosque loudspeakers and jihadi megaphones in the streets? Surely, the people of Pakistan are sold on the idea. Shouldn’t the advocacy for the Kashmir cause be done in the UN and other international forums? Why is the Kashmir issue framed only in terms of religion and jihad? The answer is because Kashmir is as much about foreign policy as it is about domestic control. The Taliban went rogue and are ‘bad’, however, ‘ideological’ states not only have ideologues but also have foot soldiers acting on those ideologies. To give up on ‘Kashmir jihad’ is to give up on ‘jihad’; isn’t that what the NAP is about? Kashmir Day and jihad, etc. is not about the Kashmiris; it is about us. It is about ceding space; both physical and of narrative to armed militants with rhetoric of martyrdom and killing. It is about keeping the ideology of jihad and the State conducting it through proxies alive. The prime minister doubling up as the foreign minister is the side show on Kashmir Day; it is Hafiz Saeed who is the show-stopper. In the speeches of recent years, even Kashmir is becoming a marginal issue; it is an opportunity to display muscle; both ideological and physical.
We declare a National Holiday on Kashmir Day. How does shutting down the economy and the entire business of the State for a day display solidarity with the Kashmiri people? How does it display intent to India, etc.? It doesn’t and that is not the point of it. The point of it has become giving the platform to the religious right, often armed to talk about Kashmir, xenophobia, but above all, the ideology of violence. What providing of open mic for one entire day does is that the ASWJ holds rallies and shows of strength ostensibly in favour of the ‘Kashmiris’ while actually simply making the Shias of Pakistan feel less secure than they already are.
The argument is not that the Pakistani State should give up Kashmir as a ‘foreign’ policy issue and not argue that case in appropriate forums. The Pakistani State has long lost the will to do that. The Kashmir issue is the domain of the government and the audience should be international. Kashmir now is a prop, an opportunity for assorted jihadi outfits to make their presence felt. We do a great disservice to the persecuted people of Kashmir and their genuine suffering by using them as mere gimmicks for domestic narrative power grabs; we do a disservice to ourselves by ceding the few inches of narrative space captured after APS Peshawar. ‘Kashmir jihad’ is the original sin; the convergence of religious militancy with hyper-nationalist patriotism. ‘Kashmir Day’ today makes a mockery of the NAP. We need to be ‘liberated’ from ‘Kashmir’ in our imagination before we talk about us, the NAP and perhaps even Kashmir.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 8th, 2015.
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Good thought
Saroop sahab… you are absolutely spot on and from a Pakistani perspective are saying each and every thing correct… but from an Indian perspective all this is simply proof in the pudding that Pakistan has long back lost the Kashmir narrative and ’cause’ or whatever…. and the more its citizens even talk about this issue, the more they appear as clowns any where in the world. Please don’t mind my saying all this… but the evidence is stark – the main reason why nobody takes your country seriously about almost anything in the world today. Even your colleague Bangash sahab said something along these lines just yesterday when relating your country’s condition to a ‘neglected first wife’ of America… pathetic isn’t it…?
Good points. With the Shias feeling insecure, do they, should they, care a whit about Kashmir? Saroop Sahib, do you think the Balochi care about Kashmir now? How about the Mohajir? We have made this fortress of Islam an outpost of the Ummah, and we are fighting in Syria, Iraq, and a few other places. Hafiz Saeed was bucking up the spirits of the Gazans a few days ago. So Kashmir is only one of the places we are going for. Perhaps recovering Andulasia should be a higher priority?
Saroop, we are Muslim and Jihad is part of our religion If you don’t like it, you can ‘liberate’ yourself from being Muslim.
Your arguments for dumping the Kashmir cause are weak and demonstrate your ignorance about it.
The author has unwittingly revealed the reasons for the present state of Pakistan. The so called Pakistani “liberals” were totally fine as long as the jihad was on someone else outside the border. What were Pakistan liberals doing in those not so distant days when Jihad was strictly on India and not inside Pakistan?
And then the author unwittingly reveals further the schizophrenic double talk of so called “moderate” Pakistanis. You talk about human rights abuses?! Even after decades of jihadi terrorism, Indian army did not indulge in aerial bombings, and other summary killings that Pakistan army has been doing in FATA and Balochistan.
“‘Kashmir jihad’ is the original sin”
Perhaps this is the most important understanding of the issue.
And this sin, consumed the people of Kashmir in PoK and consumed PAK energy, resources, intellectual discourse, finances, and made people both in PoK and PAK poorer. PAK policy towards Kashmir based on religion is repugnant, racist, and it is no more different than Aryan claim of Nazi Germany. PAK policy on Kashmir is never about benevolent welfare of the people of that state, starting from that original sin. It was all about misguided national security of PAK ( not Kashmir people welfare), the same logic that made PAK enter Baluchistan.
But without Kashmir narrative, neither the political parties in PAK nor the establishment can claim credibility of their narration. “Kashmir is PAK’s jugular vein” said Jinnah and PAK had punctured that vein. So, now PAK is in hemorrhagic septic shock and does not know how to get out of this mess with “mutual respect, honor, and dignity” as often heard on these issues.
according to pakistani muslim conspiracy theorists hindus are funding ttp the same ttp which hijacked our plane and killed our people
India and Indian animosity towards us is not because of Kashmir, it is because of Pakistan.
Pakistan should get liberated from Kashmir. Otherwise, they will freeze in time for next 50 years, as they have for last 50 years, making arguments that no one is listenng.
In the meantime, the world will move on, China and India and Indonesia, and Malaysia will march ahead.
Pakistan will stay frozen in suspended animation…mouthing dilaogues about Kashmir that no one is listening.
The inspiration of “Kashmir liberation” via Jihad is fading in our generation since mid 70s. On every Kashmir Day now rallies are arranged only by Hafiz Saeed, the JuD & Jamat Islami without participating general public. Now it is not slogan of political leaders in election campaign like Z.A Bhutto used it in 60s for attracting Punjabi voters. Yes! If you ask support for Kashmir freedom 90% Pakistani may say “Yes” but just like they want to win any sport event from India. Nothing else.
Since no government can afford to say to forget Kashmir and hence can carry on remniding India to find a solution, but it should not be at the expense of having bad relations with India. It is, therefore, better to concentrate on other vital issues facing both India and Pakistan.
If anybody thionks that India is going to hand overt Kashmir out of fear or good will, needs to get real. Only Kashmiris have the right to carry on with the struggle without any materrial help from army boots or Taliban likes.
slow clap Brilliantly written as always. But here’s the problem: this is what no politician or army is willing to admit
Very bold and true!!!
Allas, today’s Palistan is in a sad state. Security apparatus dominates the state agenda with their obsessions, politics is unimaginative, corrupt and dynastic, religion is not the light of wisdom and morality but a tool for terrorism, economic progress for people is not on anyone’s agenda.
Pakistanis deserve better, they need Freedom from terrorism, political corruption, obcessive acts of security state. To achieve this they need freedom from Kaahmir, author hits the nail on the head.
Not sure if anyone is listening in Pakistan.
Mr. Ijaz, the Pakistani state decided to ride the Jihadi tiger. it cannot dismount now, because if it does, the tiger will devour it!
Shame on this anti Islam author, and shame on all those liberals who support him.
it is strange that pakistanis talk of hunam right abuses when they have so many abuses in baloachinstan, of religious minority and others,,,, pak is guilty of sending jihadis to kashmir who then kijjed the kashmiri hindus…
What a lovely piece. A great understanding and even more solid advice. Well done Mr Ijaz Saroop. I am sure most people will agree with every word written here.
It is refreshing to read a balanced, non-jingoistic article. Thanks ET.
“Jammu and Kashmir has incredible levels of human rights abuses, enforced disappearances, extra-judicial killings, mass graves and repression by the State of India”
In present context, even the above narrative is changed. In it the word ‘India’ is required to be replaced with word ‘Pakistan’.
If Pakistan wants more land it should occupy oilfields in Iran and Iraq, make use of the useless military.
Dipak@Abrar: Ghar Vapsi is available to all of you converted people.
@Abrar:
You are right millions of sane, sensible people would love to liberate themselves to lead normal lives. The question is how. I am sure you are aware of the risks involved. Can you foresee the result of such a move? If not handled wisely, and the people are not led by able leaders, it will be catastrophic. Is there a Moses, Ataturk on the horizon?
Very few sane people would like to carry a millstone around their neck, when nations decide to do so they get weighed down to the extent they can collapse. Very few have understood that like creation of Pakistan, the Kashmir issue is about land and territory — never about people, Muslim or otherwise. If it had been about people or Muslims over a hundred thousand Pakistani citizens would not have been still languishing since 1971 in Bangladesh.
Sure the issue needs to be given an ideological colour and thus the theory of oppression of Muslims was spun, though those driven out of their home and hearth were original indigenous Kashmiri Pandits. Pakistan did not give a figleaf for any of them, so to get a lecture on human values based on bloodshed and terrorism sponsored from outside, was seen through by the International community. That the same Pakistan had no qualms about ceding land belonging to the people of Kashmir to China, reflects the hollowness of Pakistani claims. Secondly, like the Chinese friends who flooded Xinjiang and Tibet with Han Chinese and changed the demographics there, Pakistan has done the same with occupied Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan. India at least through article 370 did not allow outsiders to settle or buy land there. Now, readers can understand why Pakistan is unable to get any traction on the Kashmir issue from the International community.
Why don’t you make a proper nation out of Pakistan and then come back to discus Kashmir say, in another 100 years?
The writer lost me when he quoted “Haider” as proof of India’s excesses in Kashmir. Really?
You take Kashmir issue out of the pakistani mind. they will be like ‘ab kya karein’.my suggestion is to read some good book .
You can not forget Kashmir. Pakistan must declare every Friday as the Kashmir liberation day. That day all business should be brought to stand still and all Government Offices and Schools should be closed. That will definitely teach the Indians the seriousness our resolve. It will send a message to the whole world nay the whole Universe that Muslims can not be taken lightly. Allah know best.
You don’t have to drop Kashmir just to quell the jihadi outfits. Controlling JuD and other outfits does not mean that you give up Kashmir. The author actually is trying to use the Kashmir issue whereas his real object is to talk about jihadi outfits. Talk about these without necessarily bringing in to discussion Kashmir, which issue predates these outfits and has many other facets not relating to these organizations.
The PAK and India readership should know what is coming up on J&K . The PoK (Azad Kashmir) assembly passed an act to give legal framework for the actions of the following group named as “cell”. The word cell is an out of context nomenclature in an act and should be considered as department in good sense. Some of the objectives include establishment of pensions, overseas offices and fund rising for the activities in J&K. The objectives of this act, in my opinion, are not in tune with supposed discussion on talks on J&K between India and PAK. Read the details, follow the chain of events, and draw your own conclusion. Naturally, one should ask who is financing the founding money and why this act was passed.
The Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Cell Act, 2014
ACT NO. XIII of 2014
Dated: 03-04-2014
@ali:
It is not because of Kashmir; it is because of the wars you waged.
I think there
s nothing that Pakistan can do in the current global scenario! The Big Powers like US, Russia, France, China & the Britain are all having their own set of problems with Muslims. Chechans for Russia, Uighurs for China & Charlie Hedbo issues for France. This apart, US/UK have a dismal Human Rights record what with Iraq, afghan invasion, salala attacks, Raymond Davis, Drone strikes, Gautamano bay imprisonment of muslims etc. Obama complained only because christians got attacked in India, otherwise, he wouldnt even bother. The Islamic world is in a turmoil with oppression in different parts. All of the Islamic Countries have their own monarchs oppressing their own people in the name of religion.So, who cares about Pakistan complaining about Kashmir?
Saroop did not have to mess with the Kashmir issue to argue for reigning in ASWAJ, JuD and other organisations he would like to target.
@Abrar: Attta Boy! Spoken like a true blue Muslim!
@Ismail: Please, explain why your claims on Kashmir are strong?
@Shahbaz Asif Tahir: Why does everything have to been through a religious prism? Isn’t that what has distorted and paralyzed policy-making and governance? Maybe you are one those people whose ancestors came from present day Saudi Arabia, not ancient India, hence your religiosity, so to speak?
Kashmir is made a “Jugular Vein” by the architects of the state in order to build a “theocratic military” state around this construct. Having made Kashmir a “jugular vein” it has to lead a life vulnerable to this weak spot. Now, whether ordinary Pakistanis or the world care about Kashmir or not, as a state it will always be made to suffocate at this spot as the idiom goes, as per the original intent of the architects. If Pakistan understand this design flaw, it can rebuild the state anew, liberate from Kashmir and as the author said, solve all its problems.
Sir,
The article is excellent and the author deserves congratulation for his right approach to the problems of Kashmir though the allegation of human rights abuses is not 100% true. We do not make election issue on Kashmir problems. Even the election in Jammu and Kashmir was peaceful. There are many burning issues confronting both the countries which need immediate solution. Our mindset confined to Kashmir issue will not solve any problem.
-Bimal Chandra Jha
Its always fun to watch Pakistan push the knife deeper into itself every year on Kashmir day
Pakistan has send militants atleast 25000 in number and they in turn beforegetting killed by indian army killed atleast 15000+ civilains and may have even been killed in encounter…..so pakistan has killed more kashmiris than india…why nobody talks about it..
regards
ahmed wani
bandipora,jammu and kashmir,india..
Pakistani: “India sends terrorists into Pakistan”
World: “Give Proof”
Pakistani: “See ‘Waar'”
World: Laughs
Pakistani: “India represses Kashmiris”
World: “Give Proof”
Pakistani: “See ‘Haider'”
World: Laughs
Why is the major advocacy for Kashmir domestic, and done through mosque loudspeakers and jihadi megaphones in the streets? This is the question that every kashmiri and Pakistani should ask himself and his fellow compatriot. Well, I guess the author will be branded as a raw agent. Pakistani author(endangered species) zindabad.
You make a good point but you’re being heartless……If Kashmir were to disappear, what would poor Maulana Fazalur Rehman do ?
We cannot deny that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have a problem. I mean they are fighting aren’t they? They should be given a chance, a referendum is all they want. And then we’ll know what they actually want.
What will the Pakistani military thrive on, and its politicians too, without Kashmir? They have been asking for rights for Kashmiris which they don’t give to minorities in their own country and to Baluch people. When, a few weeks ago, the Pakistani PM raised the Kashmir issue in the UN no country bothered or will ever bother.
saroop you are very right it is high time a national framework is put together regarding Kashmir and communicating these effectively in the correct forums sadly been missing with the last 2 excuses of a Pakistan government. Zardari was an absolutely disgrace and Nawaz just pays lip service.
However to give up the struggle for Kashmir is wrong because Kashmir is a status quo not international border and nor should it be…never.
When the fox is in the chicken hen hut then the farmer has the right to exercise force.
Indians are squashing the Occupied Kashmiris and we have a right to support a just freedom struggle.
on this point your totally wrong.
@Haider Gardezi: Yes. Kashmiris have a problem, with India. Let them deal with it and we should deal with our biger problems.
@allaisa: how does this affect anybody else, other than Pakistan’s economy. If you want to slap yourself every Friday, go ahead.
https://www.facebook.com/whatsapponlineconfessions/posts/900784736682674
must read these words.
“See Haider” thats the only proof you have of “Indian atrocities”? No wonder the world is laughing at you guys!!!
I am a Pakistani . I am totally fedup with the condition and politics of my country. Instead of
working on improving the lives of people our government and the leaders are spending the energies on “liberating kishmir” ,which is definitely not under their control. “Kashmir day” is just a facade,it has nothing to do with reality.I want to live in peace, safety for my family is more important than anythig else.
A lot Pakistanis see India as a devil trying to wreck Pakistan and/or Muslims. Of course, they also accuse the West, Americans, Jews, Hindus….Unfortunately, there is very little rational and honest introspection – in both Pakistan and the Muslim world in general – of WHY they are stagnating politically, socially, civilizationally, and -most importantly- intellectually. Consider this: if I were an Indian strategist, I can do the most severe damage by funding madrassas and the adoption of a hardcore, literal following of Islam. That would set back a society or country by a millennia. Based on the large number of jingoistic, thoughtless, and superficial comments in this newspaper, I wonder how many in Pakistan (even the English-speaking) see this point.
Pakistan is trying to keep the Kashmir issue alive. At the same time Nawaz sharif wants to have good relations with india . You think the Kashmir issue is so simple. There are many hindus , Sikhs in Jammu, and Buddhists in ladakh- they do not want to be a part of Pakistan . Only the Kashmir valley want some autonomy or independence. If you have a referendum in POK – even they would not like to be a part of Pakistan .. why did you give a big part of POK to china? And 200 million indian muslims do not want to be with Pakistan. If you persist in keeping the Kashmir problem festering – it will boil over into Baluchistan and you will even lose it… pls be careful-
Pakistanis are simply not committed enough to the Kashmir cause. How can they influence the world by shutting Pakistan down for just 1 day in a year. They need to be shutting Pakistan down totally for at least 1 day every week apart from their weekly holidays. Only then can they convince the world of their commitment to the Kashmir cause. Go for it dudes. Shut Pakistan down 1 day every week for the next 1 year as your Kashmir liberation effort.
@KashmiriMuslim: we want full peace and social freedom in Kashmir valley. No blackmailing by violence should be tolerated . Pakistan just want a piece of land, but Kashmir is our head we won’t loose. We have lost our citizens as well as soldiers to keep Kashmir away from militants.
@Abrar and @Meshuga… Author cannot leave or liberate himself from Islam… because you know the punishment for apostasy in Islam and so Islam does not allow that freedom unless of course you are not afraid of your life.
There should be a Kashmir day every week or at least every month. Once in a year is just not enough to show our support and fight for Kashmir. It a question of honor every Pakistani fight for Kashmir. Every Pakistani should be charged a Kashmir surcharge of 40% of the total income to fight the Kashmir cause. At least 50% of the GDP should be spent on the noble Kashmir cause.
@observer:
There should be a Kashmir day every week or at least every month. Once in a year is just not enough to show our support and fight for Kashmir
How about 5 times a day?
PS- Why have you occupied an ID I have been using for 5 years?
APS Peshawar is a direct result of Pakistan’s Kashmir and Jihad obsessions. Author is so right, in portraying the futility of this Obsession. It has not only made Pakistan into a nervous wreck, but destroyed its stability and made it disoriented. Unless someone in Pakistan takes the bold step to make the country get out of this obsession, Jihadis and terrorists will only grow and eat into the vitals of Pakistan and Peshawar will surely be repeated in some form or the other
@indian:
According to Indian conspiracy theorists TTP and Afghan Taliban are the same.
@Alansaralhaq: Here why you are wrong, Sir: Pakistan was created out of 5000-year-old India, not the other way around. If there had been a referendum of all Indians (instead of just Muslims), you may not have had a “Country for All Muslims” on Indian soil. One can be eternally grateful and happy for you that it happened (especially the right-wing reactionary Hindu and Muslim parties). Another small matter: The same number of “Indian” Muslims who occupied West Pakistan (now Pakistan), were left behind by your beloved and visionary leaders, but your new nation received ALL THE LAND for them, as if this uncomfortable piece of reality (and real estate) did not happen. So, fair is fair: Return half your land area for the real Indian Muslims now living in India, then negotiations for ALL of Kashmir (POK, Indian Free Kashmir, and China-Occupied Kashmir) will happen. Maybe even a referendum . . . involving all 1.5 billion people of South Asia? 🙂
@Alansaralhaq: Please explain the phrase “When the fox is in the chicken”? Sounds tasty.
I am beginning to see the parallel between this demand and the demand many immigrants from Pakistan are known to make (and are resented for by natives) in North America, UK, Australia and other countries they willingly went to. Those countries can see occurrences in South Asia as a precursor of how things may evolve in their backyards. Oh, the parallels!!
@KafirMusafir: Unless he lives in the Country of De Nial? (or US/Canada/UK/Australia where many writers and bloggers seem to live or escape to).