The Kashmir Conflict: A View

Ever since independence, no government has been able to bring peace to the valley of Kashmir.  Pakistan, the linchpin of this, have been encouraging certain separatist and terrorist groups to create havoc in Kashmir and continue the fight against India using the people of Kashmir as bait. Separating Kashmir from India and helping them create a separate nation or including Kashmir within Pakistan is their prime motto, which in anyway will be used for terrorist activities and nothing else. Imagine a small, economically poor country with no airports, no waterways, no industries, no proper educational institutes, controlled by religious fanatics and terrorist groups. A disastrous situation not only for India, but also for Kashmir itself.

Pakistan may try to do what Russia did in Ukraine, but here the situation is different. India is times powerful than Pakistan, unlike Ukraine to Russia. Pakistan is aware of the fact that they won’t be able to conquer Kashmir all by themselves, especially since Bin Laden, as now the whole world has an eye on them. With ally China having their own separate intentions, Pakistan is fighting India from within India through their “agents”, well settled in India and some misdirected youths who are readily sacrificing their future in the name of certain twisted teachings. Unfortunately, India has always been incapable of handling such anti-Indians who are fighting against India from within the Indian Territory.

Recent killing of a terrorist by the Indian Army has brought Kashmir into a standstill. His killing was criticized by Pakistan and some separatists groups which was understandable, but when thousands attended his funeral in Kashmir, in India and mourned for him and tagged him a martyr not a villain, the killing of that terrorist didn’t matter anymore. India failed to make the psychological impact it should have. Why so many people stood for a terrorist, who if not killed would have created havoc in their very own country? Why every action taken by the Indian government to uproot terrorism activity in Kashmir messes up the situation even more?

Any lead regarding any terrorist activity in Kashmir is dealt with hard hands. Talk about paramilitary forces or artilleries, it’s code red, all the time, throughout the year. Terrorism can’t be dealt with subtlety.  Think about Iraq, or Afghanistan. The United States of America, with joined aid from France, Germany and many other powerful nations fought to level terrorism to the ground with as much fury as possible. Drones, Army, Missiles, Intelligence, advanced warfare machineries, all deployed to the brink. Result?

Terrorists are still flourishing, still killing, still fighting. It’s the innocents, women and children who are suffering. Their homes, destroyed, fields burnt, future snatched away. Forced to survive near the jaws of death. Collateral damage and nothing else.

Fire cannot be defeated with fire. Fighting terrorism has its costs, yes, but with brave men dying fighting the mere pawns when the real terrorists are at loose, in their homes, plotting and planning their next move; one can be assured that the war is never going to end.

No Indian government since independence has been able to take action against the active separatist groups. Inaction against these groups and a certain level of political protection has made them stronger than ever. The armed militants, most of whom are young men from POK, some even from the valley itself, are created and deployed by these pro-Pakistan separatists, only to pull the trigger and create mass disturbance. They are mere mercenaries trained to kill or die. Only fighting the militants is futile. The war in Kashmir is not going to end unless the masterminds are taken down. Eradicating such groups which are anti-India, pro-Pakistan and are encouraging terrorist activities in the valley is the only way to settle the Kashmir problem once and for all.

It is not going to be easy. Their roots are too deep to be uprooted without ruining the ground. Innocents will still die; India will still lose many of her brave sons, political establishments will crumble. Recovery won’t be easy, but at least, the renegades and the real enemies of our nation will be exterminated and no more youths will be pushed to terrorism. Till then, there will be lawlessness, guns will keep on blazing, chaos will remain rooted and Kashmir will burn.

The longer Kashmir remains in the state of conflict, the longer humanity is going to suffer. We must understand that it’s not about any religion; it has never been about any religion. It is all about the greed for power. Power to rule a piece of land, and for that sacrifices are been made.