Kashmir: burning volcano

Prime Minister Imran Khan is very right in his assessment that Narendra Modi, his Indian counterpart, has committed a “historic blunder” by revoking the special autonomy of occupied Kashmir and, in doing so, he “has opened the way to Kashmir’s freedom”. The unrelenting resistance of the Kashmiri men, women and children — despite a strict curfew — is a testimony to Imran’s belief which he passed on to New Delhi in the form of a caution. Unarmed and famished Kashmiri civilians continue to defy the heavy restrictions and come out on the streets in protest, unfazed by the hundreds of thousands of Indian troops that are fanned across Jammu and Kashmir to ensure the lockdown of the occupied state that has entered 23^rd day today. The Indian troops are armed to the teeth, but have no answer to the steely determination of the Kashmiris who are fighting on and on even though they carry no weapons, except for the small pieces of rocks and stones to scare away their brute opponent. The continued Indian atrocities — denial of access to food, water and medicines; choking of the communication channels; imprisonment of hundreds of innocent civilians; and detention of almost the whole of resistance leadership — are only adding to the daredevilry of the never-say-die Kashmiris and enflaming their love for freedom and their hatred of the occupation forces.

And as the valiant struggle of the Kashmiris continues undeterred, Prime Minister Imran assured them that they are not alone in their fight for the right to self-determination, and reiterated that he will himself act as Kashmir’s ambassador. In a televised address to the nation on Monday, the PM shared his government’s policy and stance as regards the prevailing Kashmir situation, while detailing all his efforts for peace with India that finally came to an abrupt halt with its annexation of the disputed territory on August 5 that runs in contravention of the resolutions adopted by the United Nations Security Council. He also shed light on the fascist Hindu ideology that led to the assassination of Mahatama Gandhi soon after the Partition — the ideology that started gaining ground in India after the death of former prime minister Jawahar Lal Nehru and consolidated its hold on the reins of power in the times of Prime Minister Modi who is spearheading the RSS/BJP dream of Hindutva being pursued for a long long time.

In wars, there are no winners or losers, there are only survivors. While the PM did convey the very fact in his address to the nation, he also made it loud and clear that the whole Pakistani nation stood ready to go any stretch for the cause of Kashmir. “Till my last breath I will go [to help the Kashmiris realise their dream of freedom],” declared the PM. He also sounded upset by the slumbering world conscience, but told the gallant Kashmiris “whether the world stands with them or not, Pakistan will.” Still, he once again drew the attention of the world powers towards the plight of millions of Kashmiris living under brutal Indian occupation, abuse and violence. Days back too, the PM had urged the world to make efforts to prevent “an impending genocide of Kashmiris” in the occupied territory.

And in line with his pledge to raise the Kashmir issue the world over, the PM had a telephone talk with Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman soon after his address to the nation to apprise him of the situation prevailing in the India-occupied region. As the Ambassador of Kashmir, the PM is required to embark on a whirlwind diplomacy to win friends for Kashmiris in the world. The world must now understand that Kashmir is a burning volcano that can erupt anytime.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 28^th, 2019.

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