The Undisputed Problem of Disputed Kashmir

I, as an Indian, feel there’s a dispute in Kashmir. It’s not the territorial dispute. The territory of Kashmir is an integral part of India. The dispute lies in the hearts of the Kashmiris. Considering the ground situation, do the Kashmiris consider themselves to be as “Indian” as any other person on the street? This was a thought which occurred to me as several events unfolded during a trip to Kashmir. The first one was when I stepped into a shop in Kashmir and the elderly man on the other side of the table welcomed us with a warm-hearted smile but a remark which left me dumbstruck – “Aao ji. Apna hi desh hai” (Come inside. It’s our own country). Why is it that he had to remind me I was in my own country? After all, I don’t expect to be reminded that when I step inside a shop in any other part of India. His words betrayed those feelings of alienation present deep down inside his heart. Even though I witnessed the hospitality, the innocence and the warm-hearted nature for which the Kashmiris are so famous, it was the welcome message which kept on ringing in my ears as I stepped out. The next incident was even more startling. Because the message was the same and it came from none other than a J&K Police Force jawan guarding the Hazratbal Shrine. In contrast to the Armed Forces, the police force has uniformed men from the local state. The same feeling of alienation was also embedded deep inside the hearts of the local uniformed men – men who are perceived to be elements of the government machinery.

I used to have a certain impression about Kashmir and its problems. But I stepped out of Kashmir with an entirely different image. Many stakeholders and non-stakeholders are responsible for aggravating the crisis in Kashmir. The media, known for its freedom, is misusing the freedom for furthering its own interests. Let me take the example of my home state – Jharkhand. Here nobody dares to step out on the roads whenever there’s a strike call by the rebel outfit MCC. Whereas, in Srinagar, we moved around the entire city during a Hurriyat Bandh, and without any problems. All famous tourist attractions were crowded with people. This is a scene I cannot imagine in my home state during a Bandh call. The Kashmir I saw was very different from the Kashmir which the media portrays. The locals concurred with this viewpoint and informed that even small stone pelting incidents at Lal Chowk come out as “Breaking News” and make it to the headlines next day. The media is exploiting the situation to achieve its short term goals, remaining oblivious to the long-term damage caused by its actions.

Another stakeholder, the Indian government, feigns ignorance of the feeling of alienation present among the Kashmiris. It regards the problems of Kashmir as a typical law and order problem. Let’s face it. The problem in Kashmir is much more than just a law and order problem. And turning a blind eye to this fact will have mighty repercussions for the Indian Union in the long run. After all, for how long can it force the people to live under the shadow of guns? With incidents of terrorism on the decline, the government should consider decreasing the presence of armed force personnel and removal of AFSPA from areas which are relatively quiet. Not only will it convey the good intentions of the government to the Kashmiris but also give the Kashmiris a chance to show that they want to “give peace a chance”. Unemployment is another issue which the government needs to address. The only industry thriving here is tourism, which works for 4 months a year. The extreme weather conditions make it impossible for traditional sources of employment to spread its roots in this part of the country. And unemployed youths are a soft target for the terrorists. The spurt in fake encounters is another issue causing a lot of disquiet in the Valley. The least that the Indian government can do is to start judicial proceedings against these black sheep in the army. Protecting these men in uniform will not, in any way, boost the morale of our Armed Forces.

The government of India should realise that to make Kashmir an integral part of India, we do not need to have a large army presence in the state. Rather, we need to win over the hearts of the Kashmiris. Along with asking Kashmiris to give peace a chance, it has to simultaneously give soft power a chance. The sooner the government realises it, the better.