By Zafar Iqbal
After suffering
from over half century long turmoil, people of Kashmir expect that the West
would pay similar attention to Kashmir conflict as it gives to contemporary
resistance in the Arab world. Although, Indian rising economy, vast market of
1.21 billion people and robust trade and strategic partnership between India
and UK; are few crucial factors which induce the later to turning a blind eye
to human rights situation in Kashmir. But such alienation triggers the concerns
of Muslim majority people of Kashmir who believe that the West has double
standards over issues related to Muslim world.
contestants of Kashmir conflict, Pakistan and India have been blaming each
other for abuse of human rights in their respective controlled regions,
however, ground realties prevailing in all three units of disputed State
unquestionably held responsible both parties for exacerbating the human
suffering in the region where poverty, unemployment, exploitation of natural
resources, gross human rights violations are on the rise.
Pakistan have failed to address the grievances of local people suffered from
some development projects aimed to extract and exploit natural resources from
Kashmiri lands to benefit Indian and Pakistani populations. Campaigners’
complaint that besides abusing global environmental standards, rights of
indigenous people are being brutally violated by Pakistani and Indian
governments in some mega developmental projects being carried out in different
regions in Kashmir,e.g. Diamer-Bhasha Dam (Gilgit Baltistan), Neelum Jhelum
Hydropower Project and Mangla Upraising Power project( Pakistan Administrated
Kashmir) and Kishanganga Project( Indian
administered Kashmir).
unidentified graves – believed to contain victims of alleged Indian state
torture – have been found in Indian Kashmir where over 100 people are killed in
recent uprising which remained distant from militancy. Amnesty International charges India for
detaining of up to 20,000 people without trial under Public Safety Act (PSA) which
gives powers officials to detain citizens without trial for up to two
years. Additionally, ban on
international and cellular calls and SMS service prevails to curb free speech.
region which lies under Pakistani control, over half a million population in
border region in picturesque Neelum Valley lives without any basic communication
system due to monopoly of a telephone firm- run by Pakistani army. Such baloney
sanctions are fuelling anti-Pakistan and India sentiments among locals. People
are also furious over Pakistani regime for mishandling £300m international aid
donated for the rebuilding of quake ridden region of Kashmir.
part of Kashmir dozens of political activists have been barred to join June 26,
2011 local elections under Article 7(2) of the Constituent which also
suffocates free speech and fundamental human right of access to public jobs for
those Kashmiris who don’t believe on the ideology of “the State’s accession to
Pakistan.” Pakistan’s Ministry of Kashmir Affairs is publicly alleged for
rigorous electoral rigging, misuse of power and promotion of political
corruption.
Muzaffarabad,
the capital of Pakistan Kashmir, has no powers in media licensing as Islamabad
controls all press regulations. Local rules for registration for charitable
trusts and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) also restrict campaigning for
human rights issues.
Gilgit Baltistan political activists are frequently arrested over expressing
resentment showed against the constitutional reforms, which annexed the region
with Pakistan.
policy on ‘war on terror’ is questionable when it comes tackling Islamic
insurgents in Kashmir. Pakistan-based devout Islamists like Jamaat ud-dawah
(JuD) are freely operational in Pakistani Kashmir. The JuD which is believed to
be a strategic asset of Pakistan for waging proxy war in Kashmir can endanger
temporary peace agreement between India and Pakistan.
Pakistani troopers have been killed in this month when militants, most likely
from the Jud, tried to cross the Line of Control (LoC). But, three powerful
anti -militants’ processions held in
two weeks after the reorganisation of militants in Pakistani Kashmir,
indicate public mood has changed for militants who are losing public support,
which they gained after starting militancy against India in 1989.
Similarly, a
profound support from local traders has been expressed for Intra-Kashmir, an
initiative started as part of Indo-Pak Confidence Building Measures (CBMs).
Sadly, lack of bank and communication facilities; presence of barter trade
system and excessive use of bureaucratic procedures make these peace
initiatives meaningless. Also, undue security checks imposed on traders and
travellers increase the woes of divided families. Simple and user friendly
travel and business arrangements must be developed to strengthen human and
business interaction.
Kashmir conflict is part of British imperialistic legacies, spread from Kashmir
to Sri Lanka in South Asia and other inflammatory disputes like Kurdistan and
Palestine in Middle East; and Somalia, Cyprus, Yemen and Sudan, etc. In the recent
past British Prime Minister David Cameron, referring the Kashmir conflict, has
already admitted that ‘Britain caused many of the world’s problems’. Now it is
time for British leadership to correct their historical mistakes by protecting
human rights and democracy in Kashmir.
writer is an expert on regional security issues and Executive Director of Press
for Peace, a human development organisation working in South Asia. He could be reached at
zafar@pressforpeace.org.uk)
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