ALI SUKHANVER
Suppression and oppression give birth to depression; the worst of all psychological diseases. Most of the time violence is a result of depression. When someone feels that he is being deprived of his basic human rights and finds himself unable to raise a voice against that deprivation and injustice, he turns to violence. Unfortunately this resultant violence is being given the name of terrorism, in case of the Muslims all over the world. Militancy, extremism and fundamentalism; all are different forms of reaction born out of injustice and suppression. The so-called terrorism is nothing but an out come of oppression which the Muslims have been bearing for the last many decades. The Al-Qaeda , The Taliban , The Harkat-ul-Mujahideen and so many other organizations are different colours of Intifada; an Arabic word , literally meaning shaking off and usually translated into English as uprising or resistance or rebellion.
Intifada is not only a term but also the name of a militant organization which is very much active in all those parts of the world where Muslims are being crushed and suppressed. The pages of history introduce us to different movements which had been moving along under the title of Intifada. From Palestinian uprising against Israeli rule in 1987 to the violent Palestinian-Israeli conflict in September 2000 and to the recent post-Gaza Invasion Palestinian-Israeli conflict tension; the role of the Intifada needs no introduction. But that does not mean that Intifada is limited only to Palestine; it has a much wider history.Intifada was there in Bahrain in 1965 raising voice against the United Kingdom colonial presence. It was also there in Iraq in 1991 reacting against Saddam Hussein’s dictatorship. The role of Intifada could never be ignored after Rafiq Hariri’s assassination in 2005 in Lebanon; in short Intifada is not a new-born baby
Now the liberation struggle in the Indian Occupied Kashmir is transforming into another Intifada type of movement. Up till now the liberation movement in the Indian Occupied Kashmir was simply limited to raising slogans against the Indian atrocities in public protest processions and doing press-conferences but now the Kashmiries seem inclined towards an Intifada type of struggle. It means that India is going to face something like that of Palestinian Intifada which has been giving a very tough time to Israel since very after its emergence. Such type of change in scenario would directly affect the Indian troops deployed there in Kashmir to curb the independence movement. There have been reports regarding the increasing fear of the Indian soldiers in the valley. Before this they never had a chance of facing the reaction of protesters equipped with militancy; but now the situation is going to change. The Indian Chief of the Army Staff Gen V.K. Singh seems well aware of the forth coming dangers. In one of his recent statements he emphasized the need of a political solution of the Kashmir conflict. Talking to the Times of India a few days back, he suggested that military should step back from its security role in the region. He said, “Militarily, we have brought the overall internal security situation in Jammu and Kashmir under control. Now, the need is to handle things politically.” Though the General has used very careful words in his effort to conceal his actual apprehensions regarding the future of the Indian troops in Kashmir but those who are well aware of the situation can easily understand the hidden wave of fear between the lines. He knows very well that street violence in the Kashmir valley has increased in recent weeks after the killings of several innocent and unarmed civilians who were protesting against Indian rule in the region.
Moreover the Indian soldiers deputed in Indian occupied Kashmir have their own grievances. They are of the opinion that whatever they do in Kashmir is simply ‘obeying the orders’, they have no personal conflict with the people of Kashmir, but the government of India never provides them any kind of favour and support. Most of the soldiers are worried about the future of their families. They say that they have to face a lot of criticism whenever they get a chance of interaction with their own people. Many of the soldiers have been found saying, ‘We don’t want to be called ‘Oppressors’ as the world media is portraying us.’ Most of the soldiers are not happy with the Congress Party President Sonia Gandhi who is always following the ‘Look the other way’ policy. Madhav Nalapat, a well known strategic analyst has commented the worsening mental condition of the Indian soldiers in a recent article, ‘Will India’s Military Revolt?’ The writer says, “There are signs now that a revolt may be brewing within the uniformed services over what they see as the government’s unwillingness to back them in their often bloody battle against Maoists, insurgents and Jihadists across the country. The resentment is greatest in Kashmir, a consequence of towards the well-organized intifada now taking place in that state. The movement is designed to attract international intervention in the state—preferably of a military nature—similar to that which occurred in Kosovo.”
The situation would be very much alarming If the freedom movement in the Indian Occupied Kashmir transforms into intifada type of struggle. On one side tired and depressed Indian soldiers, eagerly ready to run away and on the other side well trained and very much passionate type of Kashmiri Volunteers; the confrontation would no doubt lead to a very pathetic and heartrending situation. Moreover it would be surely a bad luck on the part of the Indian government if the Intifada Volunteers succeed in making relationships with the organizers and patrons of other separatist movements like the Maoist , ULFA, People’s Liberation Army , National Liberation Front of Tripura and the brutally crushed the Khalistan movement. Still there is time for the government of India to review and reconsider its policies in the Indian Occupied Kashmir and let the people of Kashmir choose what they think better for them.
The writer is Pakistan based bilingual analyst on defence and strategic affairs.