Let’s create avenues for peace and harmony
By Mohammad Ashraf
The incidents of violence in Kashmir are not new or novel before the world community. These incidents have been taking place here since three decades. Every Kashmiri suffered either directly or indirectly. We have a good population of orphaned children. We have a good number of maimed persons. We have a good chunk of widowed and half widowed population.
The Kashmir issue is a bone of contention between two neighbors -India and Pakistan. There have been skirmishes between the two on many times. In these skirmishes it’s the common Kashmiri who bears the brunt. It’s the Kashmir which gets trampled whenever these two bulls lock their horns.
The recent incident at Pulwama is an eye opener for both the countries that terror is not the solution of any problem. It only enriches our graveyards.The backlash of this incident also proved fatal for Kashmiris as well. Many Kashmiri students were ruthlessly beaten in outside states. Many were suspended from educational institutions. Some even lost their jobs.
Many Kashmiris who were outside in connection with their business got a big jolt. Ironically every Kashmiri is dubbed as a terrorist. Many got a sound beating from the goons. They (Kashmiris) are made to chant “Pakistan murda baad” outside the state and if someone is reluctant and refuses to do so then he has to face the music.
Whatever these people have in their minds regarding Kashmiris but the fact is that the people of Kashmir have been non violent since time immemorial. Even Sir Walter Lawrence admitted in his book ‘Valley of Kashmir’ that the people here are non violent rather timid. Even the recent report on crimes perpetrated against foreigners showed our state having zero crime rate against foreigners.
We have been non violent to outsiders as well. The hospitability of Kashmiris is popular throughout the globe. Whenever the relations between the two countries become bitter it’s the Kashmir which has to swallow the bitter pill with side effects of lot more.
It’s high time for both the countries that they have to be on the negotiating table for solving this chronic issue of Kashmir. The international communities are just mute spectators. They are not interested in solving the issue. The developed countries from whom these countries buy arms and ammunition will never wish that this Kashmir issue should be solved as it proves for them a big market.
Both the countries spent a lot in procuring latest weaponry at the cost of their domestic development. Both the countries have the problems of mal nutrition, child mortality, health care, unemployment, poverty, etc. Thus it’s ripe time for both the countries that avenues for peace and harmony must be created. It’s crystal clear that if the Kashmir issue is resolved then both the countries will transform into good economies of the world. It’s the Kashmir issue which creates impediments in their developments.
The recent statement of Pakistan’s premier is a good initiative for paving way for negotiations. The support offered by the premier of Pakistan-Imran Khan in investigation of Pulwama attack can lessen the tension between the two.
Undeniably, war is not the solution to any dispute. Those who shout in their cozy chambers that a war must be waged against Pakistan must know that war is not the final solution of any problem.
War means to add to one’s own miseries and difficulties. If north Korea and South Korea can come forward and settle their disputes why can’t India and Pakistan? If North Korea and the USA can come close to each other why can’t the two? It’s incumbent on both the nations that they must give peace a chance to prevail. The violence has to be stopped as the incidents of violence do add to our miseries.
The writer is a teacher by profession and can be reached at mohd45679pp@gmail. com
KV Network
