In March and April of this year, I set out on a journey to see for myself what Kashmir was really about.  To find out if the idea of Azadi was in reality a viable solution.  Most importantly, was any Kashmiri leader ready to lead should Azadi be viewed as a viable option by a majority of the Kashmiri people?  Was separatist leadership prepared for institutional capacity building and public works, the most important aspect when becoming a newly created nation state?  Could they deliver security and stability for people who have lived under occupation for the past 60 years? 

 Did separatist leadership have the intestinal fortitude to come together with a common goal and agenda based on secularism and protection for minorities?  Finally, what role or influence did India, Pakistan and militant groups really play in the disputed territories, and what responsibility did they have in continuing the despair of the Kashmiri people?  I believe I found the answers to these questions, and from an objective point of view, all parties are to blame with the exception of the average Kashmiri caught in the crossfire.  What I found made the recent events not much of a surprise.  In actuality, you could see, feel and hear the coming events that would mark what arguably has been the most turbulent summer in the region since Kargil.
The true beauty of Kashmir

The real beauty that is found, and confirmed time and again by all tourists and visitors who travel to Kashmir, are the Kashmiri people.  It is unquestionable the beauty and hospitality visitors experience during their stay stems from the hospitality given to them by the Kashmiri people.  Despite this beauty routinely on display for visitors, internal questions begin to arise about the daily life of Kashmiri’s once the realization sets in that you are in the middle of a conflict zone and full-fledged occupation.  Such questions as, how is life for Kashmiri families, professionals, students and children?  Essentially, how is their human spirit?  

The tension felt in the air during the spring was undeniable.  Something was brewing among various leaders and a call for unification was being heard loud and clear.  There was no doubt in my mind that the people were ready to take matters into their own hands.  Time and time again, from the carpet and scarf maker, to the student and teacher, there was a growing sense of tension in their voices at the so-called leadership.  Across the board, the impression was that leaders such as Umar Farooq, Yasin Malik and Syed Geelani were placating for their own political purpose and popularity, rather than displaying the concrete leadership needed to properly address India and Pakistan.  Moreover, the average Kashmiri believed deep down that one or the other was placating to either India or Pakistan.  A charge that was not justified, however, had legitimacy at face value whether true or not due to the living conditions of the three, and in case of one leader, protection by the state.  

Essentially, the Kashmiri people are no different than the average American, European, Japanese, or any other free democratic society for that matter.  Their wants and desires reside in the hope of peace and stability in their daily life.  They want stability and a quality education for their children.  They want religious and cultural freedom, whether that religion be Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh or otherwise.  Quite frankly, Kashmiris want all the qualities of life most people in the West take for granted.  In fact, a typical response of the average Kashmiri Muslim in the Valley when questioned about religious minorities, the answer is always the same, “we are Kashmiri first.”  This is in stark contrast to the more conservative leanings of Mr. Geelani or even Salahudeen who claim that Kashmir should become an “Islamic”, as if Buddhists, Hindu’s and Sikh’s don’t also reside in the region, as they have for over a thousand years.  

Due to the desire of a more “collective” Kashmiri society routinely being circumvented by extremist views on both sides of the divide, most recently on display by Hindu extremists from the BJP and RSS who stormed Jammu and for the most part were non-Kashmiri, it is no surprise that the people have taken to the streets under their own volition.  We may read in the press that separatist leaders have made speeches and called strikes.  However, it is the Kashmiri people who independently took to the streets demanding their freedom, free of coercion from any political leader.  Most importantly, free of violence and communal attacks. 

The golden bargaining chip the Kashmiri people possess are themselves.  In no other place can you find a people who are so genuine and kind once you are able to break the battle hardened truth people must face on a daily basis.  You will never taste better food, enjoy any comfort, hospitality or a desire to make sure that a guest is left with a feeling that if there is one thing they must do over the course of his or hers life, it’s to come back to Kashmir and visit these people again.  It is not the mountains, the gardens, Dal Lake or undeniably beautiful handcrafted artisan goods.  It is the people and will remain the people of Kashmir who are truly the greatest asset to be found in this mountainous region. 

What do the Separatists want?
The most complicated aspect of the Kashmir issue might be the Kashmiri leadership itself.  After all the speeches, all the demands and all the cries for freedom; when the issue of a ‘free Kashmir’ is discussed at any level, the first question will always be, “what preparation are the various separatist parties undertaking to prepare for freedom, or Azadi, should it actually occur?”  The response time and again may continues to be the most unfortunate for those who claim a leadership role in such a complex and intricate issue, let alone the daunting task of nation state building.  

A majority of the leadership continues to be entrenched in the belief that freedom must come first, then the heavy lifting of public works and infrastructure; jobs, education security, protection of minorities and all the aspects that make a functioning society are secondary in principle.  Additionally, there is a continued state of denial that the issue of water and resource allocation with regards to India and Pakistan is a mute point.  This is the heart of the matter for both India and Pakistan.  Sixty years ago, Kashmir may have been much more personal and communal in nature, but that day has come and gone.  It is time that the leadership address this issue, if not, the cries of freedom will never happen. 

Once some form of unified leadership can address all the issues properly, it will become impossible for India to deny the rights of the people to live in a free and just society.   To be frank, what interest would India or Pakistan have in allowing the creation of the next failed state because leadership did not have the intellectual capacity, understanding or realization that it takes a lot more than wanting freedom to achieve freedom.  Until any of the leadership can display a legitimate understanding of these issues, rather than dodge the question, it is pointless rhetoric.   

The most difficult issue that continues to plague most of the leadership in the Valley is the issue of secularism: with the exception of Yasin Malik and Sajjad Lone.  It is recognized that the overwhelming majority of the population in the Valley is Muslim, and that it was Muslim militants who drove the Hindu minorities from their homes in the Valley in the early nineties.  This is an unfortunate reality that most of the current separatist leaders fail to address, with the exception again of the two secular leaders, and one of whom, Mr. Malik, actually was directly responsible in some ways during his time as a militant leader.  Moreover, Mr. Malik has continued to in attempt after attempt to reconcile his past, and he must be given credit for this.  In fact, he is the one leader that has displayed the ability to address communal issues as best as he can.  Despite all this, it cannot be denied that the reservations and lack of trust from Jammu and Ladakh is misplaced.  It is a legitimate reality.  The people of Ladakh and Jammu have every bit a stake in Kashmir as the Valley.  Do they face the oppression of the military, no.  That does not change the fact that they fear oppression could come from the hand of leadership in the Valley who speak as if the cultural heritage, language and way of life is due to the Muslim population, and not the result of four uniquely distinct religious cultures producing possibly the most unique unified cultures outside of China.
      
So once again, does Azadi only pertain to the Valley?  The majority of leadership in the Valley, specifically the Hurryiat, do not want to address this issue, nor do they understand what self-determination actually is defined as by the United Nations, which is not independence, but the right to choose. It is fascinating that leadership can display such arrogance to decide the definition of terms as they see fit, all the while pleading to the international community for recognition.  As previously stated, many members of leadership in the Valley want to define self-determination as independence, and unfortunately for them it is not.  

All leadership members, Hurryiat, JKLF, People’s Conference or otherwise, need actually take the time to understand how international norms are currently defined as previously determined by member states. Not a single separatist movement that has ever existed has been granted the privilege to create definitions to internationally accepted mandates to suit their own political needs and constituencies.  This failure can sadly be found in the loudest voices in the Diaspora as well in every conference, speaking engagement or otherwise continually held in Europe and the United States.  Ultimately, the right to self-determination means a choice via a democratic process, where the majority of all the people affected determines the results, not what suits one region because it holds and majority in that region.  One region does not have the right to determine what the others must follow.  That’s called fascism.

The militant tripartite: India, Pakistan and the militancy
Due to recent events, it is obvious the Indian Government in Delhi obviously does not fully appreciate or understand the destructive nature that the military and paramilitary forces have had on the Kashmiri people in the Valley.  This is unfortunate since India wants to consider itself a rising power in the world today.  The reality of India as a rising power is an economic point of view, and not as rising military power.  It takes much more than nuclear weapons to reach this status.  Just ask China.  Until India can display to the rest of the international community that she can control her forces and actually take necessary responsibility and action against the various agencies committing documented human rights abuses, rapes torture and murder on a daily basis in the Valley, they will never become a fully respected member of elite countries.  That doesn’t mean countries like the US and the UK have not continued widespread abuses in their “global war on terror”, but these are policies from an administration, not a continued widespread abuse lasting more than sixty years.

Until India accepts her own responsibility and stops seeking advice from those like Ramjethmalani, who stated in an interview in the US that “the problem with Muslims is that they have only been masters or slaves, and not partners” the continued perception of communal discrimination will remain. A charge supported when Indian Forces gunned down non-violent unarmed protestors during the recent strikes.  Responsible nations do not exude this behavior, let alone nations who claim to be champions of democracy. 

With regards to Pakistan and the militancy, it must be understood that neither one could remain a part of the equation in Kashmir without the other. One cannot survive without the other, a fact admitted by Hizbul Mujahideen Supreme Commander Syed Salahudeen in an NDTV interview in March.  Pakistan continues to be in a state of disarray, and the last thing the newly founded democratic government can be concerned with, is the day-to-day life of the average Kashmiri.  Pakistani Government officials have never displayed much concern with the needs of the people in Pakistan, so how much attention can they actually give to the people of Kashmir other than the typical lip service?  

This is not entirely the fault of the Government of Pakistan, nor an honest reflection of the Pakistani people.  Mismanagement, corruption and continued dysfunction at a political and security level for decades has created a situation outside the region of Kashmir that must become the priority of the new government.  Moreover, the friendships established by the intelligence services, the ISI, between Islamic militant organizations such as Hizbul Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Toiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, the Taliban and too a lesser extent al-Qaeda, have created a security situation that threatens the safety and security for all Pakistani’s, not just those living in Kashmir or the Northwest Frontier Province.    

Specifically regarding Kashmir, until Pakistani Government apparatuses like the ISI cease providing training, funding and logistical support to an Islamic militancy that not only create problems for the Indian occupation, but undermine the daily life of the average Kashmiri, anything Pakistan puts forth can only be accepted as false rhetoric.  The meaning behind the support aims to create economic and psychological warfare on Delhi, more specifically the occupying force in the Valley.  Additionally, it lends the appearance to the international community that regardless of the level of intervention the United Nations would provide, Islamic insurgencies would continue to diminish and negate any progress the international community hopes to pursue.  Examples of this can be found in Iraq, Israel/Palestine, Afghanistan and Darfur.  This is a calculated decision to ensure that status quo will never be disrupted, and the conditions for Kashmiris will go unchanged. However, according to most analysts in the region, and confirmed by statements by Mr. Geelani, there are less than a thousand militants active in the Valley.  Regardless of hard numbers, whenever militants attack Indian Occupying Forces, India has shown that the punishment for such actions will always fall on the shoulders of the people.  This does not make innocent Kashmiris martyrs; this makes them victims from the actions of all three parties.  Essentially, in many ways all three parties are working together to fulfill their interests, with collateral damage not only acceptable, but one hundred percent intended.

Finally, the rhetoric militant organizations continue to use regarding their “love and devotion” for the people of Kashmir is quite disconcerting.  Just prior to the strikes of this summer, the United Jihad Council, more specifically the leadership of Hizbul Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed stated in a news conference by the United Jihad Council, that they were going to join with Taliban and al-Qaeda forces in Afghanistan to participate in Jihad.  A reality confirmed by the bombing of the Indian Embassy in Afghanistan following this announcement.  It should be obvious that this decision follows a continued rejection by the Kashmiri people of their fundamentalist doctrine.  Moreover, that the general Kashmiri population are more concerned with peace and harmony, than death or destruction.  Rather than continue their Jihad for Azadi, the militancy has shown their willingness to abandon the people of Kashmir despite the people suffering at the hands of the Indian military and paramilitary forces in response to militant activities.  Moreover, it confirms that the militancy since around 1995, have been agents for Pakistan and not a homegrown institution. 

Answers to internal questions
The strikes against the transfer of land to the Amaranth Shrine Board only happened due to the conditions imposed on the people of Kashmir in the Valley.  Moreover, forestland converted into golf courses by the State of India, without discussion with the people of Kashmir, remains fresh in the minds of the people, and a blatant disregard for their input, opinion or respect.  Moreover, begging the question of what use is a golf course in the middle of a military occupation?  

Next, the Indian Governments refusal for troop reductions despite almost no violence the past three years, pushed the people past the point of accepting anything imposed on them by the state without some sort of reciprocity.  In addition, since India continues to occupy and subjugate the people of the Valley with impunity, why would the state not understand that this would become the tipping point in Kashmiri requests for Azadi?  It is impossible to travel to a single crack or crevice in the Valley without seeing military personnel.  This reality was just the straw that broke the camels back and forced the people to take to the streets demanding their rights for Azadi.  The fact that the Indian Government acted as if the strikes were a surprise only confirms the central government remains out of touch with how the military has treated the people of Kashmir through the continued usage of draconian laws, forced disappearances, rape and in many cases, murder.  Unless the Government of India takes the necessary measures to put a stop to hold Hindu extremist violence against Muslims in Jammu, it will no longer be possible to say that there are not racist elements within the central government, and especially the Kashmir Commission headed by Ramjethmalani.

Final Thoughts: Breaking the Cycle
Due to the separatist leaderships failure to address the adverse affect of militants coming across the Line of Control from Pakistan, the current situation has for the most part been ignored.  This failure will continue to undercut any objectives to possible negotiations with India as a legitimate stakeholder.  Moreover, the continued demand by the likes of Mr. Geelani and Mr. Farooq that the militants must have a seat at the table, only confirms that their own leadership remains entrenched with the likes of Mr. Salahudeen who lives in his comforts on behalf of the Government of Pakistan.  The time has come once and for all for the leadership to represent the needs of the people who are under occupation, and not the needs and desires for people whose only desire is for a false rhetoric and false Jihad.

Next, India must realize that the detaining, rendering and house arrest of separatist leaders will only incite the people of Kashmir to continue strikes, and bait militants from Pakistan to wage their Jihad, bringing more pain and suffering to the people of the Valley by continuing the cycle of unnecessary violence.  The various separatist factions were successful in organizing non-violent protests, which the military and paramilitary forces reacted in a violent manner.  If the protests sparked from the Shrine Board land transfer sparked fear in the Indian Armed Forces, what does the Indian Central Government think will be achieved by detaining and rendering inoperative the very leadership that finally started to act on behalf the people?

Communal rhetoric and accountability must be addressed.  The Indian Government needs to show that communal intolerance by Hindu Nationalists active in Jammu will be dealt with in a transparent manner.  Next, leadership in the Valley needs to adopt secular policies addressing the needs of everyone in the three regions, rather than creating fear through Islamic rhetoric and disregard for the rest of the Jammu and Kashmir region outside of the Valley.  If this cannot be addressed affectively, there will continue to be violent reactions flamed by outside entities that do not live in the region.  This may be a naïve assumption that ending communal rhetoric can cease communal divisions.  However, both Muslims and Pandit Kashmiri leaders have affection for one another, a belief in which they all state, “Kashmiri First.”

Finally, the collective leadership must address the issues most important to both India and Pakistan whether they like it or not.  The inability for any person within leadership to properly address the water issue, resource allocation and human and intellectual capital, it is pointless for either India or Pakistan to recognize Kashmiri leadership.  Why would they cut themselves off from their own lifeline?  It is time that leadership stop squandering their opportunity which lies in the resource of the land, and cease debating an issue that has long since past.  To offer Kashmiri stewardship of these resources to be shared among all the people of South Asia for the betterment of everyone, and in the name of peace, would be the biggest breakthrough in the negotiation process.

Courtesy: Kashmir Affairs