Mere concern won’t help
Kashmir has been witnessing turbulent times since the past three decades now. During all these years we have witnessed many top ranking officials from various world bodies and countries raising concern for the issues that confront the people of the state.
These concerns have even gone broader as most of the time these are addressed towards the two nations India and Pakistan being affected by the turmoil and escalation on the borders and the Line of Control.
But given the situation, where have these concerns taken us. We as a people who are on the forefront and bearing the brunt all the time have witnessed no relief. Just today the top United Nations human rights official has condemned last week’s suicide bomb attack against security forces in Pulwama district and called on authorities to bring those responsible to justice.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR) Michelle Bachelet also felt saddened by the further loss of life from subsequent gun battles in the same area and also expressed concern on the reports from India that some elements are using the attack as justification for threats and potential acts of violence targeting Kashmiri people living in different parts of India.
The UN top official’s concern apart, US President Donald Trump described the Pulwama attack and the situation that arose after it as horrible.
After the attack led to escalation of tension between India and Pakistan and Trump said that he will come up with a detailed statement on the situation but said that it would be wonderful if the two South Asia neighbours get along.
Apart from the US President, the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres also expressed his concern and called on India and Pakistan to take immediate steps to de-escalate tensions following the Pulwama attack, reiterating that his good offices are available if both sides ask.
The already sour relations between India and Pakistan have worsened over the past week as New Delhi blamed Islamabad for the Pulwama attack by Jaish-e-Mohammed in which 49 CRPF personnel were killed. Both countries have called back their envoys for consultations.
The attack has also left the people of Kashmir in a catch 22 situation. Kashmiris have been subject to worse form of terror by right wing groups who have not only attacked and vandalized the properties that belongs to Kashmiris but have driven tens and thousands out of the main land India.
These also include several thousand students who were studying in various educational institutions in several Indian states.
The Kashmir problem is not new that the world will take its time to understand the issue. This is a seven decade old issue that is also already on the UN list as the world body had agreed to conduct an exercise to ascertain the peoples will.
Why the world bodies and leaders are acting deaf on the miseries of the Kashmiri people is a concern which no one tends to address. Raising and expressing concern about the situation will not help. It is time to act which the world bodies and leaders need to understand. The sooner the better it will be.
KV Network
