What Does Pakistan Gain From Kashmir Violence? – OpEd
During the month of Ramzan, when Muslims were focused on fasting and prayer, it is unfortunate that huge violence took place in Kashmir, with stone throwing and pistol wielding mob attacking the police stations and setting fire to public buildings. The violence was reported to have taken place, as the Indian army spotted a young person who was propagating separate Kashmir and indulging in violent activities and he was killed by the Indian army in a shoot out. When violence took place at such a scale , Kashmir police and Indian army had no alternative other than imposing curfew.
When the mob indulged in violence and the authorities tried to enforce the law, forty people lost their lives and many more were injured. Government of India conveyed it’s regret about the deaths and even advised the army and police to observe restraint ,even when the violent mob would be in full cry. Certainly, government of India was concerned .
How such large scale violence organized?
Many Indians wonder as to how such scale of violence took place which was obviously well organized with weapons readily in the hands of mob. Many people suspected that outside elements and infiltrators who came across the border could have been involved in organizing violence, that brought unrest in the valley and drew international attention to the disturbance in Kashmir.
Why Pakistan extended sympathy to the violent elements in Kashmir?
What shocked everyone in India and other parts of the world is the alacrity and speed with which the government of Pakistan officially expressed sympathy to the separatist forces who provoked the unrest and violence in Kashmir and it condemned government of India for using force to put down the violence and restore peace. Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Shariff openly voiced his support to those in Kashmir who were agitating for separate state.
Pakistan itself a victim of terrorism
The fact is that Pakistan itself has been a victim of terrorist acts, when many innocent people have been killed in Pakistan in recent times. The shooting down of more than 60 school students by terrorists in Pakistan will stay in the memory of the world for long time to come. Many countries suspect that Pakistan soil is being used by the terrorist groups and government of Pakistan is unable to check them. United States of America is frequently conducting drone attack to destroy the centre of activities of militants in Pakistan, possibly with the approval of the government of Pakistan.
In recent times, Pakistan has suffered enormously both in terms of economic and social progress due to the terrorist activities, apart from the fact that it has lost considerable reputation. The fact that no country in the world is even willing to send sports teams to Pakistan clearly indicate the state of affairs.
Need for peace in Pakistan
It is in the short term and long term interests of Pakistan that it should put down terrorism on it’s soil. Obviously, this means that it should not encourage terrorism anywhere else. Peace is essential pre condition for Pakistan to regain it’s glory and forge ahead. The outbursts of Prime Minister of Pakistan encouraging the separatists in Kashmir make one suspect that he has not understood this basic necessity for Pakistan. If Prime Minister of Pakistan wants peace in his country, he has to necessarily call for peace everywhere else.
Today, the ground reality is that some portion of Kashmir is in the control of Pakistan which India calls it as Pakistan occupied Kashmir. Rest of Kashmir is part of India which Pakistan terms as India occupied Kashmir. This conflict will never be over, unless the leadership of both the countries realise the compulsive need for cooperation, understanding and mutual good will.
Gesture for peace
Recently, Prime Minister Modi made an extraordinary gesture by making surprise visit to Pakistan to greet Mr. Nawaz Shariff on his family wedding day. Mr. Modi’s initiative was applauded by the peace lovers all over the world including those in India and Pakistan. It takes long time to build the peace process and Mr. Modi took significant step to strengthen the process.
The support extended by Pakistan to the separatists in Kashmir during the recent violence in Kashmir has created a situation , where all the good will that was built between both the countries by the gesture of Mr. Modi have been wiped out in one stroke.
Many in India and Pakistan want peace
All said and done, there are millions of Indians and Pakistanis who have the wisdom to understand the need for cooperation and harmony between both the countries. Unfortunately, the will of the people are not influencing the leadership; in the present context of Kashmir scenario, the leadership in Pakistan.
