Rise Of Terrorism And Separatist Movement In Kashmir

Terrorism has evolved over time as a systematic use or threat of violence to intimidate a population, community, or government in order to effect political, religious, or ideological change for personal gain. In order to amplify and broadcast feelings of intense fear and anger among the people, modern terrorism has turned to another method of intimidation: influencing the media. It goes without saying that terrorist acts are perpetrated by people who have been indoctrinated to the point of dying to kill. They are the ones who have become pawns in the hands of their masters, who direct their paths from the comforts of far-flung locations with all the amenities at their disposal. Masters have vested political interests, whereas pawns appear to have nothing to gain except to suffer for a cause they don't understand or don't understand well.

•    Terrorism in Kashmir has been going on for almost three decades and resembles the second side of the picture. It has a long history that can be traced back to the date when the subcontinent was forced to partition, resulting in the formation of two nations - India and Pakistan - after the British Empire's colonial rule ended. It might not be out of place to look into the specific consequences that led to the emergence of terrorism in Kashmir. But, again, a brief introduction to this well-known and beautiful valley would be inappropriate.

 

•    Kashmir is a slice of heaven on Earth (Switzerland of Asia) Nature's grand finale of beauty is a work of art that embodies the earth's charm and loveliness. High snow-capped mountains, scenic spots, beautiful valleys, rivers with ice-cold water, attractive lakes and springs, ever-green fields, dense forests, and beautiful health resorts are known throughout the world for their beauty and natural scenery, which add to its grandeur and are a source of great attraction for tourists. 

 

•    Apart from its natural beauty, Jammu and Kashmir has a distinct cultural blend that distinguishes it from the rest of India (India). It is distinct not only in terms of cultural forms and heritage, but also in terms of geographical, demographical, ethnical, and social entities, forming a spectrum of diversity. 

 

•    The people of Kashmir, Jammu, and Ladakh practice a variety of religions, languages, and cultures, but they continue to mix, symbolizing Indian unity in the face of diversity. Its various cultural forms, such as art and architecture, fairs and festivals, rites and rituals, seers and sagas, languages and literatures, all of which are embedded in an ageless period of history, speak of endless unity and diversity with unparalleled cultural cohesion and amicability. 

 

•    Kashmir has always been a great learning center. Here you will find a wealth of Sanskrit literature. This is where early Indo-Aryanic civilization began and flourished. It has also embraced the point of Islam's arrival, bringing with it Persian civilization's traditions of tolerance, brotherhood, and sacrifice.

 

•    Following the British withdrawal from the Indian subcontinent in 1947 and the formation of India and Pakistan as two separate countries, princely states were given the option of remaining in either India or Pakistan. Obviously, the states that fell within its geographical boundaries had no choice but to merge with the country in which they were located. 

 

•    Border states such as Kashmir, Jodhpur, and others took longer to make firm decisions, owing to their desire to enjoy the status of an independent state.

 

•    The situation in Kashmir, where Maharaja (King) Hari Singh was the ruler, deteriorated dramatically. Territorial disputes over Kashmir had already erupted, with Pakistan claiming that Kashmir should fall under his control because Muslims constituted the majority. Recognizing that the Maharaja might choose to join India, Pakistan prepared an invasion in the hopes of capturing the state forcibly, relying on the support of the masses, primarily Muslims, but this did not happen.

 

•    The Kashmiri people (Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs) rose to the occasion and stood united to counter and frustrate the enemy's evil designs who were marching to the capital city of Srinagar indulging in bloodshed and mayhem, led by secular forces led by Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, popularly known as Sher-i-Kashmir. 

 

•    “Hamlavar khabardaar, hum Kashmiri hai tayaar – Hindu Muslim Sikh Ithaad, Naya Kashmir Zindabaad,” a new slogan echoed throughout the valley. We Kashmiris are ready to fight back – Long live Hindu, Muslim, and Sikh Unity!!

 

•    On October 1, 1947, Sher-i-Kashmir declared in front of a large crowd at Hazuri Bagh in Srinagar, “I will not believe in the two-nation theory until the last drop of my blood.” It was a rebuke to Mr. Jinnah, Pakistan's founding father, who was keeping a close eye on events from his home country. 

 

•    Pakistani rulers launched an armed attack on Jammu and Kashmir to annex it after their plans for Kashmir failed. Thousands of tribesmen, accompanied by Pak regular troops, stormed the state on October 22, 1947, engaging in looting, arson, rape, bloodshed, and mayhem. 

 

•    On October 26, 1947, the Maharaja signed the Instrument of Accession in favour of India on the prescribed terms and conditions, bowing to the wishes of the people and seeing his own regular army outnumbered and unable to push back the invaders. The Governor General of India, Lord Mountbatten, accepted this the next day. 

 

•    Maharaja Hari Singh signed the same Instrument of Accession that was signed by the rulers of the other princely states. Similarly, the Governor General's acceptance of the Instrument of Accession was identical for all such instruments.

 

•    With J&K becoming a legal and constitutional part of India, the Indian army rushed to the state to push the invaders back and clear the territory of the state of aggression. After the Accession was signed, the first batch of Indian Army troops arrived at Srinagar airport. 

 

•    On October 30, 1947, the State formed an Emergency Government, led by Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah. The Army fought the tribals/Kabayilies for a long time and eventually drove them out of the Valley and other parts of the Jammu region after many sacrifices. 

 

•    Meanwhile, the people of Kashmir were mobilized and resisted the enemy's marching columns under the command of Sher-I-Kashmir. Until India's troops arrived, it was mostly Muslim volunteers led by Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah who risked their lives to push back invaders. 

 

•    While the army pushed the invaders back, there were several instances where people stood up to the invaders and put up a valiant fight. The martyrdoms of Mohammad Maqbool Sherwani and Master Abdul Aziz, both ardent supporters of Sher-i-Kashmir Sheikh Abdullah, were the most visible examples of people's resistance.

 

•    When the invaders inquired about the route to Srinagar, Sherwani refused to comply. Instead, he led them down the wrong path, giving troops more time to get to Srinagar from New Delhi. 

 

•    Tribesmen learned of his tactics and nailed him at a Baramulla crossing, demanding that he raise pro-Pakistan slogans. He did raise slogans, but they were not the same as the others. These were in favour of Sher-i-Kashmir and pro-Hindu-Muslim unity. The ruthless tribesmen were enraged and opened fire on him. 

 

•    Master Abdul Aziz's sacrifice was also admirable. The invaders who raped the nuns and demanded the handover of other non-Muslim women, Master Abdul Aziz, a tailor by trade, held the holy Quran in his hand and said that they could only touch the women after passing over his dead body and the holy Quran. He was not spared by the ruthless killers.

 

•    Under Article 35 of the UN Charter, India brought the issue of Pakistani aggression in Jammu and Kashmir to the UN on January 1, 1948. “...Such a situation now exists between India and Pakistan owing to the aid that invaders, consisting of Pakistani nationals and tribesmen... are drawing from Pakistan for operations against Jammu and Kashmir, a State that has legally acceded to the Dominion of India and is part of India,” the Indian government wrote to the Security Council. 

 

•    The Government of India requests that the Security Council urge Pakistan to stop providing such assistance, which it considers to be an act of aggression against India. If Pakistan does not comply, India's government may be forced to enter Pakistani territory in self-defense to take military action against the invaders.”

 

•    After much debate, a cease-fire was declared on January 1, 1949, at 12 a.m. India eventually filed a complaint with the United Nations Security Council, which resulted in the establishment of the United Nations Commission on India and Pakistan (UNCIP). Pakistan was accused of invading the region, and its forces were ordered to leave Jammu and Kashmir. 

 

•    “The question of the state of Jammu and Kashmir's accession to India or Pakistan will be decided through the democratic method of a free and impartial plebiscite,” the UNCIP resolution stated. However, this was not possible because Pakistan refused to comply with the UN resolution and refused to leave the country. Because Jammu and Kashmir is a "disputed territory," the international community has failed to play a decisive role in the matter.

 

•    With the help of the United Nations, India and Pakistan established a ceasefire line (the "Line of Control") that separated the two countries in 1949. Kashmir has remained a divided and troubled region as a result of this. In September 1951, free and fair elections were held in Jammu and Kashmir, in accordance with constitutional modalities, and the National Conference party, led by Sheikh Abdullah, was elected to power. 

 

•    The State of Jammu and Kashmir became a constitutionally integral part of India with the establishment of the Constituent Assembly of the State of Jammu and Kashmir, which represented the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Following Sheikh Abdullah, Chief Ministers Bakshi Gulam Mohammad, G.M.Sadiq, Mir Qasim, Gul Shah, Mufti Sayed, and Dr. Farooq Abdullah ruled the state. The current Chief Minister of the state of J&K is Mr. Gulam Nabi Azad.

 

•    Despite the fact that the governments functioned smoothly over time, Pakistan continued to incite religious fervour. In 1965, India and Pakistan fought a war that claimed many lives on both sides. In 1966, the two countries agreed to a cease-fire and signed an agreement in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, pledging to resolve the conflict through peaceful means. Five years later, the two went to war again, this time resulting in the establishment of Bangladesh. In Simla, the two Prime Ministers, Indira Gandhi and Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, signed another agreement in 1972. The Kashmir issue resurfaced after Bhutto's assassination in 1979.

 

•    Massive infiltrations from Pakistan were discovered in the region during the 1980s, and India has maintained a strong military presence in Jammu & Kashmir since then to monitor these movements along the cease-fire line. India claims Pakistan is inciting violence in Kashmir by training and funding "Islamic guerrillas" who have been fighting for independence since 1989, killing tens of thousands of people. Pakistan has always denied the accusation, describing it as an indigenous "liberation struggle."

 

•    In the Kargil area of the western part of the state, intense fighting broke out in 1999 between infiltrators and the Indian army, lasting more than two months. The battle ended with India reclaiming the majority of the territory taken by the infiltrators on its side.

 

•    Terrorists backed by Pakistan attacked the Kashmir Assembly and the Indian Parliament in New Delhi in 2001. This has resulted in a war-like situation between the two countries, with Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf requesting that his army be "fully prepared and capable of defeating all challenges," and India's then-Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee declaring, "We don't want war, but war is being thrust upon us, and we will have to face it."

 

•    The Pandits, a Hindu community in Kashmir with a long and proud history, have been among the most severely affected by the Pakistani-backed terrorism campaign in Jammu and Kashmir. Their roots run deep in the Kashmir Valley. They are the original settlers of this lovely valley. Because of their small number and peace-loving nature, they have been easy targets for terrorists. 

 

•    Almost the entire Kashmiri Pandit population of 300,000 people has been forced to flee their ancestral homes and property. They have been turned into refugees in their own country, leaving behind their shops, farms, cattle, and age-old memories after being threatened with violence and intimidation by Muslim fundamentalists.

 

•    In fact, Pakistan has turned its attention to Jammu and Kashmir, which is being fueled by religious terrorism. The exodus of Hindu/Pandits and other minorities from the Kashmir Valley to other parts of India has been caused by Muslim extremists' persecution of the Hindu minority and terrorist elements' systematic religion-based extremism. 

 

•    Fundamentalists and terrorists have assassinated Muslim intellectuals and liberal Muslim leaders who advocated for Hindu-Muslim unity and brotherhood. Outside of Jammu and Kashmir, Kashmiri militant groups have carried out terrorist acts.

 

•    The majority of separatist militant groups, according to India, are based in Pakistan and the Pakistan-administered region of Kashmir (also known as Azad Kashmir). The All Parties Hurriyat Conference and the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) are among those who want Kashmir to be independent. Other terrorist organisations, such as Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, advocate for a Pakistani-controlled Kashmir. 

 

•    The Hizbul Mujahideen, a militant organisation based in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, is one of the larger militant groups. According to sources, Al-Qaeda has a base in Pakistani Kashmir and is assisting in the spread of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.

 

•    India is adamant about not losing another inch of land. New Delhi is also concerned that Kashmiri autonomy will set a precedent for other Indian states to declare independence (e.g., Punjab or Assam). Kashmir represents Pakistan's national ethos and commitment to protect Muslim interests from Indian encroachment. 

 

•    It believes that without contiguous Kashmir, the creation of a separate, strongly sectarian nation is incomplete. In a nutshell, Kashmir is a target of foreign-sponsored religious terrorism. The goal is to divide people along sectarian lines and undermine/weaken India's secular fabric and territorial integrity.

 

•    However, as time has passed, the passion for the Jehad/movement, which once had widespread public support, has begun to wane, as it has evolved into a movement led by those who are more concerned with their own personal gain. Separatist movements have also been weakened by internal divisions. 

 

•    Jamat-e-Islami advocates a total merger of Jammu and Kashmir with Pakistan, whereas the J.K.L.F (Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front) advocates total independence for J&K. This has created a completely perplexing and contradictory situation, resulting in disillusionment, disarray, and disinterest among Kashmir's common people, who have already suffered greatly for the past 18 years and are unwilling to suffer any longer.