Hindu Vivek Kendra
A RESOURCE CENTER FOR THE PROMOTION OF HINDUTVA
   
 
 
«« Back
Kashmir as a solution to other problems

Kashmir as a solution to other problems

Author: ML Kotru
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: March 13, 2001

As the shockwaves in the wake of Tehelka revelations continue to rattle New Delhi the news from the Valley is acquiring disturbing proportions, the depredations of the Islamic jihadis, to use the term now coined by the Hurriyat and Jamaat-e-Islami leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, have become even more brazen than before.

The targeting or the paramilitary camp in the heart of Srinagar, behind the Bakshi Stadium, alongside the once-posh residential area of Wazirbagh, by yet another Islamic jihadi squad and, more ominously the simultaneous shouting of pro-Pakistan slogans by neighborhood goons, is giving an entirely new dimension to the Pak-sponsored proxy war in Jammu and Kashmir.

The jihadis, belonging to the Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaishe Mohammad, with Geelani serving as the puppet master, are virtually daring the Indian State to react in whatever manner it chooses except for the fact that the Indian State, for its own reasons, has chosen not to put its might against the terrorists. The ceasefire is only encouraging the jihadi terrorists to operate almost openly even in urban centres, Srinagar included, apart from their routine attacks on Security Forces.

And, with the ceasefire having put the Security Forces into a bind, it is not surprising that men like Ali Shah Geelani appear to be having the run of the place, exhorting the people to join the jihad. It's another matter that he may not be getting the kind of response he expects; but the truth is that his sustained campaign is beginning to carry influence.

The Lashkar, for its part, feels emboldened to issue open threats to government employees, particularly the local constabulary, to desert their posts or face their wrath. It stands to the credit of the Kashmir police personnel that despite suffering a large number of casualties they have by and large ignored the threats issued by pro-Pakistani jihadi groups. The danger, though is, with the State Government doing little on the ground to restore public confidence, even the police morale may take a dip.

According to keen Valley-based observers, New Delhi's preoccupation with the fallout of Tehelka, even as the ceasefire continues, has virtually led to a state of paralysis among those whose responsibility it should be to take the cessation of fire to its logical conclusion. There is no point, they insist, in merely repeating the old mantra that the ball is in the Pakistani court, that Islamabad must pull out its jihadis from the State before starting any from of negotiations.

Pakistan has made it abundantly clear that it has no intention to oblige New Delhi by owning that it is sending jihadis into the State. On the contrary Pakistan has taken steps to assure the jihadi outfits based in Pakistan that it is not opposed to the "jihad in Kashmir". It has encouraged its plenipotentiary in Srinagar, Ali Shah Geelani, to harp on the theme that the crisis in Kashmir is an Islamic crisis. And Geelani has more than obliged.

He has lately taken on what he calls the secularist elements within the Hurriyat conference. His criticism of men like Abdul Ghani Lone and Abdul Ghani Bhat is becoming more trenchant. So much so that the twosome and some others have been put on the back-foot. Abdul Ghani Bhat who, at one time, under pressure from some of his colleagues within the Hurriyat, had asked the Jamaat-e-Islami to name someone other than Geelani on the Hurriyat executive, has had to eat the humble pie. He has now been forced to renominate Geelani to the Hurriyat team, which he still hopes will go to Islamabad to meet leaders there.

Whether the team at all makes it to Islamabad or not is another matter, but lack of any fresh initiative from New Delhi to tackle the ground situation in the Valley is certainly sending all the wrong signals. For one thing it is exposing the Security Forces to risks they need not be subjected to. For another, it is eroding the faith of the people in the ability of the Security Forces to ward off the renewed terrorist activity now wearing the robes of an Islamic jihad.

The jihadis are making the best of the situation. Their propaganda machine has been put into high gear. Audio cassettes of Maulana Azhar Masood's Islamic exhortations to Kashmiris, pamphlets on the virtues of jihad issued by the Lashkar and Geelani's printed calls to Muslims to raise the Pakistani banner are mocking the Indian State.

The time may well have come for New Delhi to reassess its options in Jammu & Kashmir. External Affairs Minister, Jaswant Singh, now Defence Minister as well, will no doubt try to score points during his next month's visit to Washington in his talks with General Colin Powell, the US Secretary of State. Self-righteous platitudes do not make sense to soldiers of proven mettle like Colin Powell. As George W Bush's Secretary of State, he will no doubt be guided by his own country's national interest even as he may already have indicated his respect for the Indian democracy. But as a soldier he knows better than that. He will have greater respect for a powerful India.

Let's not overlook the other reality: The Republican administration continues to regard Pakistan as a friend much as it may disapprove of its involvement with the Taliban. Defence Minister Jaswant Singh would do well to put his house in Kashmir in order before setting off for Washington.
 


Back                          Top

«« Back
 
 
 
  Search Articles
 
  Special Annoucements