AFSPA-should it be repealed from Kashmir?

The present

AFSPA is in the center of limelight for good or bad reasons, some say it should be removed immediately while security experts say that time is not right for the removal of this act in J&k. Mr. Omar Abdullah had hinted  that AFSPA will be removed, Some days later Dr.Mustafa Kamal who is also the uncle of Chief Minister  and leader of  National Conference(NC) circumlocutory indicated the same thing and  alleged that Army was responsible for the grenade attacks in Srinagar so that AFSPA should remain intact . His statement was snubbed by his Brother DR faroq Abdullah and termed it  out of line from NC policy, later on Dr. Mustafa Kamala retracted his statement.

The opposition party PDP also vehemently voiced their opinion on removal of ASFPA, knowing  well that it won’t be removed in the present circumstances, but nonetheless they knew that this outcry will surely garner some more sympathy and probably more votes in next elections.

Looking at the past 1989-90

In Dec 1989, Suddenly it looked as if every teenager Muslim was either going to Pakistan for arms Training  or has already come from Pakistan after the training,  It was promised to them by Pakistan’s ISI  that they will attack India once these armed insurgents attack the politicians, Kashmiri Pandits, Government establishments and officers. In jan 1990 a Doordarshan news revealed that 10,000 militants are active in the Valley to carry out the orders of their masters from Paksitan.

Then Chief Minister Dr. Faroq Abdullah, failed to give any security to anyone whether the politicians, Government officials or Kashmiri Pandits and finally he was removed from his responsibilities on  jan 1990 and Mr. Jagmohan became the new governor of J&k. Incidentally  the major exodus of Kashmiri Pandits also happened on 19 jan-20jan 1990.So no question of Jagmohan being responsible for exodus of Pandits.

Dr. Faroq Abdullah spent major part of his time outside Kashmir from 1990-95, when Kalashankov(AK-47) had become the symbol of Kashmir, Fashion and Its culture, mind you AK-47’s don’t fire Roses but Bullets designed to kill Humans.

The PDP Patron Mr. Mufti mohammed sayed was the home minister back in 1989-90,He is equally responsible for the Kashmir imbroglio. It was during his period that militancy reached a cult status, his dereliction made him  that  fiasco which India will remember for a long time..

Afganistan-pakistan

Then(80’S-90’S)– Pakistan with the support of U.S.A was assisting the Islamic militants in Afganistan against Russia.Zia-ul-Haq had Islamized Pakistan under his  decade old regime, The Frankenstein of Islamic extremism was created by The dictator with the help of ISI.

The soviets withdrew from Afganistan in 1989 leaving the armed Jihadis without job. Pakistan  started exporting these Jihadis to Kashmir as a part of low cost warfare with India.Many Army personnel lost their lives while fighting these merceneries.

Now(1996-2011)

The frankestien created by Zia-ul-haq  has become the greatest threat to the existence of Pakistan.The Baluchis are detesting every move of Pakistani Government , the residents of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir are also resisting Pakistans’s plan to change the ethnic population for long now .In Karachi  sectarian violence is all time high  and  The economy of Pakistan is in a cauldron.This precarious situation of Pakistan can be compared to that of Afganistan in 1980’s and 90’s.

It is most likely that Pakistan will push some more jihadi elements into Kashmir in the present future.

Pakistan China Connection

Pakistan and China are still a big threat to India both externally and internally. It is not a co-incidence that Maoists are coming closer to Jihadis of Kashmir as both aim at destabilising India.It is a well known fact that China gives financial aid to the Maoists of India, Today the Maoists have become a existential threat to India. in some pockets of Chattisgarh, Orissa, Jharkahnd, they are known to use terror tactics and death sentence for those who don’t adhere to their gag orders.

Pakistan on the other hand is also trying  best to use the sentiments of the Muslims in India for its vested interests. So far they have been successful in Kashmir valley and met with some success in Kerala, Maharashtra and Hyderabad. The Madrassa of India unfortunately are palying in the hands of Pakistan and saudi arabia-Madrassas biggest donor’s

In Kashmir, the sousl of Kashmiriyat – Rishi and sufi tradition were mauled by the Saudi funded Wahabis, who have given large sums of donations to the madrassas of Kashmir and are  responsible for the extremist mindset such as that of syed ali shah geelani, who has openly criticized sufis of Kashmir.

China has already taken a large part of Kashmir in ladakh,every now and then we hear from the news channels of Chinese aggression on India-China border. India needs large number of troops to be posted in J&k in order to safeguard our International Borders and also a stand by in case of immediate emergency.Kashmir serves the purpose of that stand-by.

J&K Police(1989-2011)

Back in 1989 and throughout the nineties, the pusillanimous attitude of J&K became evident, In late 89 and early 90’s many policemen turned blind eye on the crimes committed by the militants. The role of the police was almost zero and they did not dare to apprehend any terrorist although they knew everything about them. This attitude was not wrong  as they knew that nobody will come to their rescue .Anyways they paid for being a “policeman” as they were the “pariah’s” of the 90’s in Kashmir..                                                                                                      

The situation has improved a lot since 1996, they have done a good job in the 2008 as well as 2010 agitations as people don’t support the terrorism like they did in early 90’s.Having said that, they won’t be a match to the Pakistan sponsored muslim mercenaries if Pakistan decides to re-create the situation that was prevalent in 90’s of Kashmir.

 

Role of Indian Armed forces in countering terrorism(1989-2011)

 The Indian Army enforced law and order at the time(1990) when there are total anarchy and the rule of terrorism and mobocracy. The local police at that time proved to be total failure. Many government buildings, schools, bridges were burnt down by the new zealots/terrorists, properties of Kashmiri pundits were plundered and burnt down by these gun flaunting extremists ,Girls and women were raped and there was no one to challenge them except the Indian Armed forces who fought them tooth and nail and brought back Kashmir to normalcy. It was the AFSPA that helped the armed forces to counter the Pakistan sponsored terrorism. Even today Kashmir is not totally free from terrorists as still officially hundreds of terrorists are active in the valley, unofficially the figures will run in thousands if we consider those also who are hibernating in sleeper cells.

 

THE PRESENT AGAIN(KP’s VIEW)

Kashmir has somehow left the past and has emerged into a new era but its past will haunt it for a long time.4 lakh kashmiri pundits were forced to leave their hearth and homes in the middle of night to save their lives and honor, For many years this beleaguered community lived in tattered tents and in penury, but as born survivors bounced back and today with their hard work they are among one  of the most educated community in India and many of them are working in India and abroad at high positions. Still many of the KP’s would love to come back to their motherland .

“Kashmir will not be same unless Kashmiri Pandits come back to Kashmir” has been said by many Muslims in the past including some of the separatists leaders, but even today time is not ripe for the return of the Kashmiri Pandits, still their biggest threat remains-security

 

CONCLUSION

It is eventually the army who has to decide when to quit from the valley of Kashmir. They have already  reduced their numbers in the valley, they can not depend upon the state leadership as the state governments will try to politicize everything in order to be in power. The Two patrons of main political parties of Kashmir in 1989-90 deserted Kashmir and left it in a lurch, there is no reason that they will not do it again in case AFSPA is repealed and Pakistan pursues the same old policy…

AFSPA should stay for the time being…..