In early nineties mass movements were launched in some Baltic States for secession from the former Soviet Union. Whole of the western world led by United States supported this upsurge and condemned Soviet Union for oppressing a genuine liberation movement. Getting encouraged from the worldwide attention which the Baltic movements attracted people of the Azerbaijan too launched an agitation against the Soviet occupation. The agitation was suppressed ruthlessly; thousands of Azires were killed. None in the west including United States supported them. I asked this question to one of the American Senators heading a foreign affairs committee during an Internet discussion. His answer was that Americans have all along regarded Baltic States as the areas whose sovereignty is disputed but so far as the central Asian republics are concerned whole of the western world has regarded these as genuine parts of Soviet Union. He did not subscribe to my view that the American attitude was biased because former were Christians and the Azarbaijanis were Muslims. Irrespective of American attitude within few years, the central Asian Muslim republics got freedom and were recognized as independent nations by all actors of international politics.
At present Kashmiris are having a similar experience. Americans remain indifferent towards their genuine struggle for freedom. U.S bailed out India out of Kargil debacle and persuaded Pakistan to facilitate the retreat of the militants fighting there. After 9/11 United States is pressuring Pakistan to abandon Kashmir and compromise on Status quo. Kashmiris irrespective of American attitude are destined to take the ongoing movement to its logical conclusion. It is possible simply because they are fighting for fulfillment of a genuine aspiration. The world has yet to produce the weapons which can kill aspirations. This may happen irrespective of American negative attitude as was experienced in case of Central Asian Republics. United States after all is not as omnipotent as it is perceived to be. Few years back, the slang of American discourse was “be with us or with our adversaries”. The way Americans have been mauled and mutilated in Iraq makes their leaders now to beg for support even from the American public.
American indifference towards Kashmir may be because of so many reasons. They may include irrelevance of Kashmir in context of their economy. It may be their growing proximity to India. The Islamophobia and Jewish influence over foreign policy may also be contributory factors. What we must assess is our own share in the acts and omissions that led to this diplomatic fiasco. Those on this side of LoC should not be an exception to this process. Every year we hear about delegations going to different countries for mobilization of the world opinion in favor of Kashmir cause. Our leaders after coming from their intercontinental expeditions tell us that they have mobilized whole of the world in support of Kashmir. We have Kashmir American Council, World Kashmir Freedom Movement and units of different groups of JKLF all claiming to be espousing Kashmir cause and convincing the western world about its genuineness. Yet not only Americans but other Western powers remain on the side of our adversaries.
Up to early sixties, when no one claimed to be working for Kashmir in the West, Americans supported the demand for our right of self determination. They were very active for it in different forums of the United Nations. After 1971 war and dismemberment of Pakistan, Americans and Chinese mentioning Kashmir in their joint communiqué gave a new lease of life to Kashmir movement. Americans played an active role in making United Nations to refuse withdrawal of its observer’s mission after Shimla Agreement. India used change of nomenclature from ceasefire line to LOC (line of control) to demand the same. Since our outfits have started working overseas, American support has been on the decline. It is high time that utility of our efforts be evaluated. The problem should be viewed in context of incompetence rather than insincerity. Every person among our leaders considers himself capable of doing anything. When asked to name some persons who could accompany all party delegation of Members of National Assembly (MNAs) abroad, Hurriyat leaders of Pakistan administered Kashmir (Pak) divided the world so that every one of them gets chance of an international trip. Most of them are ignorant with the art of diplomacy. Some are even unfamiliar with English and other international languages. When they are confronted by Dhars, Kouls, Hakhsars, and other former Indian foreign ministry officials, they become cause of embarrassment for themselves and for those they represent. Kashmiris unlike Palestinians don’t have a strong presence in US. For decades it was impossible for an ordinary Kashmiri to get a passport. This was a privilege of those who were collaborators and instruments of occupation, the earliest group of Kashmiris settled in US constitutes of this segment of Kashmir society. For them the ongoing movement is nothing but a source of nuisance for their annual sojourns to the land of their recreation. Next group is those of businessmen and doctors. The businessmen are too much preoccupied with their business and at the same time scared to do anything that has negative impact upon their business interest, whereas doctors are not equipped with the skills of mobilizing public opinions or be part of a serious politico-legal discourse. Kashmiris remain unrepresented in the media and social science faculties of American academic institutions. Whatever representation Kashmiris have within these fields is of the ethnic Kashmiris who have migrated to US from Azad Kashmir and Pakistan. This group is not fully equipped to represent the real situation of Kashmir nor has any effort been done to facilitate its involvement for promotion of Kashmir cause. For mobilizing this group we need people of stature who themselves have excelled in different fields become focus of international attention. Its is this type of individuals who can utilize their stature for bringing Kashmir and its miseries to limelight. Inspite of efforts of our overseas outfits, we don’t see any such face over there. We don’t have any Edward Saed to highlight our case and become rallying point for our intelligentsia. What we have is few isolated baggage carriers who inspite of their dedication and untiring efforts have limited sway over the events. Instead of shaping the events they often get swayed by them. Unable to convince the west they act as instruments of moderation on its behalf.
Can we reorient our efforts? Instead of sending our best brains to West and its institutions of higher learning exclusively in the fields of medicine and engineering, we must look towards other fields as well. It is they who can create a space for a serious discourse on Kashmir. The discourses which involve people from the subcontinent and those American lobbyists for whom it is simply a profession are of little use. The worth of these discourses can be assessed from the fact that these fail to attract attention of American media despite high profile venues and participations. For elevating the level of discourse and its effectiveness on international forums, the level of discourse within Kashmir too needs to be elevated. An overseas discussion is after all a reflection of what transpires on the ground and how it gets articulated. As a long term measure, our concerned segments of society, should instead of exclusively spending huge sums on providing technical trainings, invest in facilitating mastery over the disciplines which are relevant to us as a community. It may be beneficial to our new generations in terms of appreciation of the world within which they have to shape their destiny? Our short as well as long term efforts may not necessarily invoke support for us. Projection of a just cause has its own merits. It exposes the forces of oppression and their self assumed adherence to lofty ideals. Manipulations and Machiavellian tactics have exposed the west and degraded it in its own estimation because of systematic projections of Palestinian cause by its people and intelligentsia
At present Kashmiris are having a similar experience. Americans remain indifferent towards their genuine struggle for freedom. U.S bailed out India out of Kargil debacle and persuaded Pakistan to facilitate the retreat of the militants fighting there. After 9/11 United States is pressuring Pakistan to abandon Kashmir and compromise on Status quo. Kashmiris irrespective of American attitude are destined to take the ongoing movement to its logical conclusion. It is possible simply because they are fighting for fulfillment of a genuine aspiration. The world has yet to produce the weapons which can kill aspirations. This may happen irrespective of American negative attitude as was experienced in case of Central Asian Republics. United States after all is not as omnipotent as it is perceived to be. Few years back, the slang of American discourse was “be with us or with our adversaries”. The way Americans have been mauled and mutilated in Iraq makes their leaders now to beg for support even from the American public.
American indifference towards Kashmir may be because of so many reasons. They may include irrelevance of Kashmir in context of their economy. It may be their growing proximity to India. The Islamophobia and Jewish influence over foreign policy may also be contributory factors. What we must assess is our own share in the acts and omissions that led to this diplomatic fiasco. Those on this side of LoC should not be an exception to this process. Every year we hear about delegations going to different countries for mobilization of the world opinion in favor of Kashmir cause. Our leaders after coming from their intercontinental expeditions tell us that they have mobilized whole of the world in support of Kashmir. We have Kashmir American Council, World Kashmir Freedom Movement and units of different groups of JKLF all claiming to be espousing Kashmir cause and convincing the western world about its genuineness. Yet not only Americans but other Western powers remain on the side of our adversaries.
Up to early sixties, when no one claimed to be working for Kashmir in the West, Americans supported the demand for our right of self determination. They were very active for it in different forums of the United Nations. After 1971 war and dismemberment of Pakistan, Americans and Chinese mentioning Kashmir in their joint communiqué gave a new lease of life to Kashmir movement. Americans played an active role in making United Nations to refuse withdrawal of its observer’s mission after Shimla Agreement. India used change of nomenclature from ceasefire line to LOC (line of control) to demand the same. Since our outfits have started working overseas, American support has been on the decline. It is high time that utility of our efforts be evaluated. The problem should be viewed in context of incompetence rather than insincerity. Every person among our leaders considers himself capable of doing anything. When asked to name some persons who could accompany all party delegation of Members of National Assembly (MNAs) abroad, Hurriyat leaders of Pakistan administered Kashmir (Pak) divided the world so that every one of them gets chance of an international trip. Most of them are ignorant with the art of diplomacy. Some are even unfamiliar with English and other international languages. When they are confronted by Dhars, Kouls, Hakhsars, and other former Indian foreign ministry officials, they become cause of embarrassment for themselves and for those they represent. Kashmiris unlike Palestinians don’t have a strong presence in US. For decades it was impossible for an ordinary Kashmiri to get a passport. This was a privilege of those who were collaborators and instruments of occupation, the earliest group of Kashmiris settled in US constitutes of this segment of Kashmir society. For them the ongoing movement is nothing but a source of nuisance for their annual sojourns to the land of their recreation. Next group is those of businessmen and doctors. The businessmen are too much preoccupied with their business and at the same time scared to do anything that has negative impact upon their business interest, whereas doctors are not equipped with the skills of mobilizing public opinions or be part of a serious politico-legal discourse. Kashmiris remain unrepresented in the media and social science faculties of American academic institutions. Whatever representation Kashmiris have within these fields is of the ethnic Kashmiris who have migrated to US from Azad Kashmir and Pakistan. This group is not fully equipped to represent the real situation of Kashmir nor has any effort been done to facilitate its involvement for promotion of Kashmir cause. For mobilizing this group we need people of stature who themselves have excelled in different fields become focus of international attention. Its is this type of individuals who can utilize their stature for bringing Kashmir and its miseries to limelight. Inspite of efforts of our overseas outfits, we don’t see any such face over there. We don’t have any Edward Saed to highlight our case and become rallying point for our intelligentsia. What we have is few isolated baggage carriers who inspite of their dedication and untiring efforts have limited sway over the events. Instead of shaping the events they often get swayed by them. Unable to convince the west they act as instruments of moderation on its behalf.
Can we reorient our efforts? Instead of sending our best brains to West and its institutions of higher learning exclusively in the fields of medicine and engineering, we must look towards other fields as well. It is they who can create a space for a serious discourse on Kashmir. The discourses which involve people from the subcontinent and those American lobbyists for whom it is simply a profession are of little use. The worth of these discourses can be assessed from the fact that these fail to attract attention of American media despite high profile venues and participations. For elevating the level of discourse and its effectiveness on international forums, the level of discourse within Kashmir too needs to be elevated. An overseas discussion is after all a reflection of what transpires on the ground and how it gets articulated. As a long term measure, our concerned segments of society, should instead of exclusively spending huge sums on providing technical trainings, invest in facilitating mastery over the disciplines which are relevant to us as a community. It may be beneficial to our new generations in terms of appreciation of the world within which they have to shape their destiny? Our short as well as long term efforts may not necessarily invoke support for us. Projection of a just cause has its own merits. It exposes the forces of oppression and their self assumed adherence to lofty ideals. Manipulations and Machiavellian tactics have exposed the west and degraded it in its own estimation because of systematic projections of Palestinian cause by its people and intelligentsia
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