Kashmir: Way Forward

BY: RANBIR MANHAS PUBLISHED ON May 3, 2019

Jammu and Kashmir is a disputed domain, this everyone says but ironically very few people know what exactly Kashmir dispute has been. With everybody devising his or her own explanations the ‘dispute’ therefore has become a matter of confusion and chaos!

Historically speaking, there were 565 princely states before partition of the country in 1947. Later on Jammu and Kashmir also became part of India when its legitimate ruler, Maharaja Hari Singh acceded to Indian domain through a legal instrument of accession. However, before that a good chunk of the J&K territory was forcibly and illegally annexed by Pakistan to be called as Azad Kashmir now. Although the dispute is about that part of the State only a common Kashmiri has been made to believe that whole of Jammu and Kashmir was disputed. No doubt the first PM of India, Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru did give a commitment that the WILLL of people (as per UNSC Resolutions also) would be obtained to ratify the ‘accession’ but not before withdrawing Pakistani armed forces from the so called Azad Kashmir which Pakistan never did. The Kashmiri leaders including Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah should have pressed upon Pakistan to withdraw from the occupied territory but they did not. They instead mounted pressure on India to vacate Kashmir which was unjustified. This illogical approach of Kashmiri leadership complicated the issue which has become a soaring wound for all three parties; India, Pakistan and Kashmir particularly the people of Kashmir who are the real sufferers. That is why I always say that Kashmiri leaders are real enemies of Kashmir not even Pakistan because they misled their people instead of telling them truth about the Kashmir Dispute. Now when the status of the Kashmir remains same as it was in 1947 sticking to slogan of plebiscite or regional autonomy is meaningless. Otherwise also when these demands couldn’t be met after ‘numerous sacrifices’ and weak India externally how should anybody expect these dreams realizing when not only India has become internally strong its strength is being accepted by world powers as well?

Due to developmental disparity meted out to Jammu by successive state governments, people of Jammu also want separation from Kashmir but how impossible it is they perhaps are not aware about that. The way India cannot leave Kashmir at this stage the country cannot afford to separate Jammu from Kashmir also. Did leaders of Jammu ever think that separation of Jammu from Kashmir means separation of Kashmir from rest of the country? Jammu and Kashmir has a strategic importance in view of which neither Kashmir can be separated from India nor can Jammu be separated from Kashmir. Kashmir has lost too much for a dream which its leaders showed them but in-vain. So, if people of Jammu also harp on illusive slogans the result couldn’t be different. Now, if neither Kashmiris are going to get Azadi from India and when Dogras cannot get Azadi from Kashmir then what is the way out? I cannot say about others but my confirmed belief is that Live and Let live is the only option left out. Let’s create a situation wherein Kashmiris can stay in Jammu during winters and Dogras stay in Kashmir as happily as the practice was thirty years ago. Pt. Roshan Lal Mawa has taken the lead let others follow suit though not blindly.

Warning: Beware of politicians for whom friendship between two regions could be a death knell !