Kashmir - A Victim to Hypocrisy

Alam Rind

On the fateful day of October 27, 1947, Indian troops landed in Srinagar and forcefully started occupying the state. The whole operation was premeditated and launched with the tacit approval of British Raj. There are evidences that Maharaja Hari Singh, Ruler of Kashmir was forced to sign a post dated document of "accession to India", to justify their aggression. The basic principle that in case of dispute, the issue of accession of any state to Pakistan or India would be decided on the basis of "right of self determination" was denied. This unjust move mutilated the rights of the people of Kashmir and subjected them to unending atrocities at the hands of Indian occupation forces.

As a damage control measure, Mr. Jawaharlal Nehru, then Prime Minister of India in a communication to Prime Minister of Pakistan, on October 31, 1947 said, "Our assurance that we shall withdraw our forces from Kashmir as soon as peace and order are restored and leave the decision regarding the future of this state to the people of state is not merely a pledge to your government but also to the people ofKashmir and to the world". This statement by itself, highly questions the validity of accession document and intention of Indian Leadership. Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, disappointment on this unfair episode and being fully aware of the situation while speaking to Lord Mountbatten on November 1, 1947 said "Theaccession (of Kashmir to India) was not a bona fide one since it rested on fraud and violence and would never be accepted by Pakistan…… Accession was the end of a long intrigue". So a seed, which would breed a lasting conflict in Sub-continent, was sown.

Certainly, Qaid-e-Azam could not over look such a situation. He immediately ordered General Sir Douglas Gracy, who was then acting as the Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Army, to move two brigades of the Pakistan Army into Kashmir, one from Rawalpindi and other from Sialkot. He ignored the orders and expressed his inability to do so without the consent of Field Marshal Auchinlek. The Field Marshal threatened Qaid-e-Azam to withdraw all the British officers fromPakistan Army, whereas, he never extended such a threat to India in spite of their operations in Kashmir. Consequently, the employment of Pakistan Army was delayed. It was General Akbar who supported the point of view of Qaid-e-Azam and sent Pakistan Army in May 1948. At this belated stage Army at best could consolidate the gains of freedom fighters and "Tribal Lashkars", organized by Sardar Mohammad Ibrahim Khan and Major Anwar.

Christopher Beaumont, Radcliffe's private secretary had revealed the extent to which he had compromised the integrity of his mission. Radcliffe was under pressure from Mountbatten to protect the interests ofIndia, especially in regard to Kashmir. Gurdaspur, having predominant Muslim population was transferred to India in order to provide them a defendable ground line of communication with Kashmir . British, quite deliberately supported Indian aspiration for a hegemonic position in the region. Allocation of Gurdaspur and subsequent occupation of Kashmir provided India a window of access to Central Asian States of formal USSR, China, Afghanistan and the province of NWFP.

Rational reasons for accession of Kashmir to Pakistan like its geographical contiguousness, economic dependency, communication system, cultural affinity and Muslim majority were denied. Above all, the control of the rivers originating from Kashmir, slipped into the hands of India, making Pakistan 's agro based economy vulnerable to manipulation. Issues like Kishanganga Hydroelectric project, Baglihar Dam, diversion of water of Neelum River into Wullar Lake and construction of a very large number of hydropower projects in occupiedKashmir are a constant source of concern. The momentous strategic advantage gained by India at the initial stage of partition has now started effecting Pakistan as a merciless coercive tool, directly distressing its food basket.

India could not reconcile with the existence of Pakistan and is continuously working against it. Her role in 1971 war, occupation of Siachan Glacier and continuing disputes over water, Sir Creek etc speaks of her long term intentions. She is incessantly sponsoring anti-state elements in Baluchistan and fueling anti-Pakistan Taliban through her setups in Afghanistan. These in fact are acts of terrorism, committed by India, against Pakistan, but to the contrary, they are maligning Pakistan as a "State Sponsoring Terrorism". It certainly is a part of a well thought out policy to weaken and destabilize Pakistan.

Pakistan has the potential to come out of the present quagmire as it is a nation with the ability to stand arrestingly in the face hardship and danger, gifted with large arable and fertile planes, exceptional mineral resource reservoir and a population of around 180,000,000 of which approximately 40% are below 30 years of age. Its people are conscientious and its Armed Forces dedicated, patriotic and second to none in professionalism. Only thing we need is to put our act together to surmount present difficulties. Immediate problems of terrorists in FATA areas bordering Afghanistan and bomb blasts in the cities ofPakistan are efforts to demoralize the people and to destabilize the country. We can overcome the situation through our whole hearted support to the Armed Forces and by acting as ears and eyes for security agencies. Every unusual activity observed must be immediately reported as a social and national obligation. As a strong and a vibrant Pakistan will not only guarantee us safety, security and prosperity, but will also help us resolve Kashmir dispute on favorable terms. We owe the responsibility of pulling our selves out of the present turmoil not only for the future of our generations but also for future of the people of Kashmir as the dawn of freedom for them is not far, it might have been obscured by the dust of events.