An Apple of Discard!

BY: RANBIR MANHAS PUBLISHED ON JUNE 15, 2018

Few days ago, I had made a comment on my time line which read, “Pakistan will not let Kashmir live and India will not let it die”. Although the comment was quite meaningful the poor response proves that it was not properly understood hence this write up.

Situation in Kashmir unfortunately is worsening with every passing day. If terrorists, duly trained and motivated by ISI are sneaking in on regular basis, the local youth are coming out on roads with stones in their hands to protect them from security forces even by risking their lives. Although only a couple of districts are disturbed an impression is being given away that whole of the Valley was up in arms against Indian ‘occupation’. The aim is to keep Kashmiris permanently in the state of illusion that Azadi was round the corner. But the reality is not like that. The dream of Azadi as shown by Pakistan will never materialize and I have sound reasons to prove that.

Pakistan is involved in Kashmir ever since it became an independent country on August 14, 1947. It first invaded Jammu and Kashmir on 21 October, 1947 , annexed half of its territory and then waged various aggressions including the infamous Kargil War of 1999 to forcibly capture the Valley, it is another thing though that every time Pakistan had to taste a humiliating defeat at the hands of Indian soldiers.

It is not Pakistan alone for whom Kashmir is a jugular vein even super powers like China and Russia have an eye on it because of Jammu and Kashmir’s unique geographic situation. Having common borders with Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan, Kashmir has become apple of discard for all those countries which want to use it as a route to the Middle East (Oil Wells) and it is in this very context that Pakistan directly and China indirectly have been trying to grab Kashmir by fomenting trouble there.

TIn the backdrop of historical facts evident from Amritsar Treaty (latter Lahore Treaty ) signed between Maharaja Gulab Singh Dogra of Jammu and Fredric Currie, Esq. and Brevet- Major Henry Montgomery Lawrence on behalf of British Government on March 16, 1846 whereby the Dogra King bought Kashmir for 75 lakh rupees, until October 27/28, 1947, Dogras were the legitimate masters of Kashmir when the last ruler of this dynasty Maharaja Bahadur Hari Singh acceded to India thereby merging his Principality (Jammu and Kashmir) in Indian domain. This accession was later on confirmed and ratified by Jammu and Kashmir Constituent Assembly also. After that where does the question of Kashmir being a disputed territory arise? Indeed there is a dispute but about that part of Kashmir which was forcibly and illegally annexed by Pakistan in October 1947 a fact that has been endorsed by Security Council vide its resolutions on the issue.

Therefore, whereas Pakistani interference in Kashmir is not only illegal and uncalled for, it is unethical and immoral as well a fact which Pakistan fully understands. Since China has no direct territorial access to Kashmir, it is helping Pakistan so that it could finally get a loaf of share as it got in the shape of Gilgit and Baltistan.

The vicious chain of exploitation indeed is very interesting – Hurriyat is exploiting the gullible Kashmiri youth by meeting their petty financial demands mostly to buy drugs; Pakistan is exploiting Hurriyat leader’s lust for money and China is exploiting economic breakdown of Pakistan to establish land access to South Asian countries to furthering its economic interests. As for India, Jammu and Kashmir being its legal part defending it from the enemies is its responsibility and this India will do up to the hilt.

In view of the above facts, the ongoing ‘freedom struggle’ in Kashmir is only a Pak manifestation that has nothing to do with Azadi of Kashmir. The game is simple and straight but unfortunately Muslim youths of Kashmir do not understand it and are unknowingly becoming fodder of Pakistani guns and sacrificial goats for their own selfish ‘well wishes’. The Killer Conflict has the potential of destroying Kashmir for ever unless the Kashmiris themselves come out by exhibiting courage and wisdom to save their future generations from a possible doom. Let’s not forget that whenever different children stake claim on a particular toy a fierce scuffle is bound to occur and the outcome is destruction of the toy. Kashmir also is a toy and different countries are trying to capture it. So, what will happen to it is not difficult to understand.