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| Demand for LOC demilitarisation sounds ludicrous | | | | At times sermons issued by separatist leaders make a fantastic reading. One cannot be blamed if one treats these sermons, claims or assertions "ludicrous." Though, of late, these separatists in the Kashmir valley have beeen raising issues that concern people, they lose the grip on their demands and assertions when they do not hesitate linking problems and difficulties being faced by people with the unsettled Kashmir issue. If you ask these separatists, whether belonging to the camp of moderates or hardlines, why people in Jammu and Kashmir suffer they would lose a second for holding the unresolved Kashmir issue as the main cause for it. Even if their claim that the Kashmir issue has not been settled can be accepted for a moment will they be able to spell out the reasons for overall economic prosperity of people in the Kashmir valley? Since 1947 the state has been receiving special attention from the successive central Governments in terms of adequate financial assistance and other concessions in the sectors of industry, agriculture, tourism and allied activities. It is because of multidimensional financial aid from the Government of India and its agencies that the per capita income people in the Kashmir valley is higher than people living many states in India. The latest howler is from the other wise learned Molvi Umar Farooq, who seems to have been enraged by the killing of three civilians in Pakistani firing in the Uri sector. Instead of blaming Pakistani troops for having violated the ceasefire by opening indiscriminate fire on the Indian village on the LoC, the Maulana has held continued militarisation responsible for the killing of three civilians. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq hit at both India and Pakistan saying "it's Kashmiris who are being killed on both sides of the LoC." He suggested to the leadership of India and Pakistan to start demilitarization on both sides of the LoC. "On one side Indian leaders give an impression that Kashmir is peaceful but on the other India resorts to buildup of troops in the region," To him militarization is a major obstacle in the resolution of Kashmir issue. He has claimed that they have been demanding demilitarization for long now. It is not a demand of a particular organization but the aspiration of lakhs of Kashmiris, he says. Well if not anybody else in Kashmir the Maulana is supposed to know,that too fully,that the border between two countries remains demilitarised only when the two neighours have very cordial relations.And the Kashmir Mirwaiz is fully aware that since 1947 Pakistan went to war against India not once but on four occasions,including the Kargil misadventure. Even after these wars relations between the two neighbours continue to be strained. And after the rise of Pakistan sponsored terrorism in 1989-90 India cannot even think of reducing the deployment of troops on the LoC and the IB in Jammu and Kashmir. Not only Jammu and Kashmir but in other states where the borders kiss the Pakistani territory. Since all moves, initiated by India, for reducing trust deficit with Pakistan have not succeeded it would be suicidal for New Delhi to concede Molvi Umar's demand for demilitarisation of the LoC and the IB in Jammu and Kashmir. It would be in the interest of people in Kashmir if heads of both the factions of Hurriyat Conference and other separatist groups plead strongly with Islamabad the need for honouring ceasefire on the border and for taking in hand steps that could promote peace.If that materialises the Maulana's demand can be conceded. |
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