Author: J. N Raina
Publication: The Free Press Journal
Date: August 12, 2002
URL: http://www.samachar.com/features/120802-fpj.html
US Secretary of State Colin Powell
must have had a boisterous laugh when Pa kistan-backed terrorists, owing
allegiance to Hizbul Mujahideen, made a grenade attack on the Pradesh Congress
Headquarters in Srinagar, as if to 'hail' the Election Commission's announcement
on August 2, fixing dates for holding Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
Gen Powell, while on a hopping spree
in the subcontinent had showered " generosity" on India by remarking altruistically
that Pakistan " should take every effort to avoid disturbing these elections".
The grenade attack just on the heels
of the announcement, was not a solitary incident. There were series of
sporadic violent incidents on the eventful day across the state, killing
eleven foreign mercenaries in encounters, besides several security personnel
and ruling National Conference leaders. Latest is the attack on Amarnath
pilgrims, killing nine persons.
However, there were scenes of jubilation
almost all over the state. The separatist Hurriyat Conference (HC) leaders,
who wanted initiation of a dialogue to resolve the Kashmir problem prior
to the holding of the elections, were sulking, reiterating that their stand
vis-a-vis elections remained unchanged. The party chairman Abdul Gani Butt
put it thus: " It does not matter when and how sham elections are held".
Some other parties, including the
Congress, were however, not confident if the elections will be fair. They
wanted the elections to be held under the purview of the Governor's rule,
if they are seen to be "free and fair". May be, Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah
himself asks for it. It hardly matters.
Whether elections, to be held under
the leadership of Dr Abdullah, will be " free and fair " is a matter of
conjecture, given the present scenario. But Gen Powell's advice to Pakistan
( to avoid disturbing these elections) will have hardly any salutary effect
on the militants, who have gone haywire. Pakistan renewed artillery fire
all along the Line of Control (LoC) and the international border the moment
elections were announced.
Terrorist violence escalated despite
the fact that Gen Powell has laced his remarks with a rider that " elections
alone could not solve the problems between India and Pakistan.... and erase
the scars of so many years of strife". Although these pungent remarks were
irksome to India, it should have given solace to the separatists to welcome
the election process.
The HC, of which Jamait-e-Islami
is a major constituent, knows it very well they will be defeated at the
hustings, as on earlier occasions. The HC is a divided house. The then
Muslim United Front (MUF), now defunct, which was formed in the absence
of a viable opposition ( when the Congress and the NC had formed a coalition)
had failed to garner more than seven seats in the state assembly in 1987
elections. It is MUF's lame excuse they could have got two-third majority
if the elections were not rigged. But rigging and other electoral malpractices
were committed by both the NC and MUF . The latter had sought votes in
the name of Quran. In the " bargain " the NC being mass-based, eventually
proved more `powerful', having better infrastructure; and formed the coalition
Government. The Jamait-e-Islami has always been defeated like their counterparts
in Pakistan.
The US is playing a dubious role.
Gen Powell's statement has not only made bold the Kashmiri separatists,
but also the military dictator, Gen Pervez Musharraf .The HC had realized
the necessity of contesting the elections, to prove its representative
character. But certainly they were divided on the issue. From their instant
reaction, the separatists now believe more in what Colin Powell has to
say rather than act on the advice of the Chief Election Commissioner James
Lyngdoh. The HC, a conglomerate of some two dozen political outfits and
religious organizations, wait for direction from Pakistan. Even for sighting
the Idd moon, they remain glued to PTV.
In the first place, what is the
locus standi of Gen Powell in Kashmir? Asking India to free political prisoners
and allow independent international observers to travel to Jammu and Kashmir
to oversee elections and certify the final results is sheer dishonesty
and interference.
Although India has rejected the
dictate for posting " designated" observers and disagreed with the comments
of Gen Powell on political prisoners ( who want Kashmir's total merger
with Pakistan), our External Affairs Ministry is not doing enough at the
diplomatic level to nail down Gen Musharraf for his skulduggery.
While the US-the mother of Democracy-
does not hesitate from giving pinpricks to India- the largest democracy
in the world- Pakistan continues to bleed India more brazenly. Instead
of keeping Pakistan on the international agenda (if not declare it as a
terrorist State ), Gen Powell has sought to malign and traduce India by
asserting that the U S has kept Kashmir " on the international agenda ".
India immediately acted on the U
S suggestion and refrained from what could have been a military action
in POK (to destroy terrorist camps) and believed on the verbal assurances
that Gen Musharraf had pledged to stop cross-border terrorism. India even
took series of steps to deescalate the situation on the borders in the
belief the military dictator would act upon his pledge to permanently end
terrorism. After India was pacified, Gen Musharraf not only denied that
he had ever pledged to stop terrorism permanently, but said shamefacedly
that what is happening in POK (alluding to camps) is of Pakistan's concern.
The self-willed dictator is not sincere. He has gently slapped the US and
its allies. Pakistan has let loose blood-sucking animals in Jammu and Kashmir.
Encouraged by Gen Powell's comments, Musharraf has renewed his vigour to
internationalize the Kashmir issue and is now hobnobbing with India's neighbours.
What do the Americans mean by making
a hullabaloo on Kashmir? Why are they obsessed with Kashmir when they should
have indulged in self-flagellation for failing to combat global terrorism?
The US is dragging its feet on the universal pledge to combat terrorism
"wherever it is and in whatever form".
The so-called Kashmir imbroglio
continues because of Pakistan's involvement in terrorist activities since
1947, when Pakistan-aided armed tribals invaded Kashmir and resorted to
loot, rape and arson. If Kashmiris under the leadership of late Kashmir
leader Sheikh Abdullah did not oblige Pakistan ( rather they had garlanded
late Mohammad Ali Jinnah, founder of Pakistan, with a garland of shoes
), why are they ( Kashmiris) being repeatedly provoked and instigated in
the name of Islam?
How much of democracy is visible
in POK or even in Pakistan? We should not ignore one thing that there has
been a quantum jump from abysmal democracy to dictatorship in our neighbouring
country; leading to anarchy - thanks to Talibanization of Pakistan and
ever-spreading madarasa culture.
Let "independent observers" be allowed
from POK and Pakistan to watch the elections in Jammu and Kashmir so that
they get inspired as how to dismantle authoritarian rule in Pakistan. Did
US bother when sham referendum was held in Pakistan, putting presidential
crown permanently on Musharraf's head. Instead of helping democracy to
gain roots in our neighbourhood, the US is constantly attempting to checkmate
India. It is a natural law: like polls repel; unlike polls attract.
Gen Musharraf is resorting to verbal
"calisthenics" and reneges on his pledge to end terrorism permanently.
India has been stressing the need for Pakistan to deliver on its pledges,
but the US attitude is different : " we are used to our friendskeeping
their pledge".
Gen Powell is blind to the happenings
in POK , perhaps taking it for granted that it is part of Pakistan, which
is not a fact. Neither he refers to the decades of strife in Gilgit, forming
part of undivided Jammu and Kashmir, grabbed by Pakistan illegally. Why
this on-again off-again shift in the US stand towards India, it considers
a "natural ally"? Should a natural ally be ditched to placate Pakistan,
which has contributed hugely in destroying Muslims in Bangladesh ( where
thirty lakh Muslims were killed before they separated from Pakistan ) and
producing Talibans, the main support base for Al Qaida. Knowing fully well
that Pakistan is bluffing the US, Gen Musharraf is being considered an
important ally in their fight against global terrorism.
US Deputy Secretary of State Richard
Armitage believes that Al Qaida has shifted its base from Afghanistan to
Kashmir, on the directions from ISI, to boost terrorist activities during
elections.
" The international terrorist network
Al Qaida would like nothing better than an splendid war between India and
Pakistan over Kashmir", Armitage has said in an interview. During his last
visit to Islamabad, he had extracted a pledge from Musharraf to put a "permanent"
end to cross-border terrorism. But is Gen Musharraf trustworthy? Is the
US satisfied with his promises? Can India start a dialogue with Pakistan
before a congenial atmosphere is created?
Pakistan is using State terrorism
as a weapon in Kashmir and has been brainwashing Kashmiris in the name
of Islam. But this policy is at variance with the policy of other Islamic
nations like the Gulf countries, which disavow Islamic fundamentalism as
an instrument of their foreign policy. Importantly, they do not consider
India to be "less sensitive" to the plight of Muslims than Pakistan.
