Dealing Kashmir with tough hand

After the decision of the Modi government to deal with the Kashmir situation with a tough hand, there are fresh reports of clashes between the Indian army and the militants. What is curious is that almost all of the killed militants are Kashmiri youths, not Pakistani nationals. Of course, there is a trend in Indian mainstream public opinion, mainly among the urban petty-bourgeoisie, advocating an all-out extermination campaign against Kashmir. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been consistently advocating this measure. This measure is, to say the least, sickening in its hypocrisy.

One may try to calculate how much material and human costs have had to be incurred by the government of India so far in order to maintain the well-worn saying that 'Kashmir is an inalienable part of India'. All-out attack on Kashmiris is in itself a violation of this saying, because if Kashmir is an inalienable part of India, the people of Kashmir are Indians. Attacking Indians for the sake of Indian nationhood is only self-defeating. Whatever the assertions of the government of India, it is plain as daylight that even if the government of Pakistan ceases to take an interest in Kashmir, the troubles in Kashmir will continue if the Government of India obstinately clings to its old stand. An all-out attack against Kashmir may be undertaken, but there will be stiff resistance, and innumerable lives will be lost. A fresh package respecting the urge for independence on the part of Kashmiris must be devised. Otherwise Kashmir may become India's Vietnam.

24.06.2019

Frontier
Vol. 52, No. 1, Jul 7 - 13, 2019