Dost Khan
JAMMU: Despite divergence in their approaches, there is intriguing convergence between Indian secularists and Pakistan strategists to make Kashmiri youth, especially teens, fodder of cannons. The blame for 44 odd killings in the current spell of violence, in the wake of terrorist Burhan’s killing, should squarely go to them. If not restrained or restricted, the number of such killings may touch alarming proportions in days and weeks to come.
Intifaada or stone pelting is a low cost substitute for gun totting terrorism, which neither invites global criticism nor requires training and logistics. The raw material for Intifada is just young lads, who are either lured by drugs or paid some bucks. The major investment, however, for both terrorism and Intifadda remains indoctrination to make young people Jihadis. This is forthcoming from the neighbouring country in immense measure. Intifada, is an Arabic term, meaning uprising or resistance or rebellion. The term, inspired by Palestine’s struggle against Israel, is often used for popular resistance to oppression. Therefore, the stone-pelters in the Valley have gained respectability of fighting for the Kashmir cause by pelting stones, as Mujahideens were doing by showering bullets. Kashmir’s hardcore hawk, Syed Ali Geelani has often supported stone-pelting by describing it a sort of protest, which, according to him, is even being carried out in Europe. This was not only encouragement to street urchins but provocation too. Geelani also sermonises that subjecting security forces to stone pelting is reflection of the anger among Kashmiri youth against India.
Engaging Kashmiri youth in stone-pelting is a well thought over strategy of ISI and Pakistan to keep the Valley on boil. They know consequences of subjecting policemen and security forces to stone-pelting but are least bothered over loss of lives in resultant reaction, which by all standards has been minimal. Imagine security personnel being mauled by youngsters in any other country, for that matter in the rogue nation of Pakistan, will the attackers be entertained with bouquets? In the Valley, the security personnel and policemen are not only being chased away with Lathis but if any of them falls in their trap, he is almost lynched by euphoric teens. The forces are showing highest degree of restraint. They are almost surrendering before crowds while pulling out to safety. The visuals under circulation on social media present a very gory picture of the situation in trouble-torn Valley. And, irony of all this is that nobody is expressing solidarity with policemen and the security personnel, who are falling like ducks. On the contrary, they are at the receiving end.
The condition of the Kashmiri stone-pelters and forces deployed to tackle them is pitiable. While Pakistan has all the reason to be elated over deaths of youngsters, as per its sinister strategy, the Indian secularists and activists are having field day to derive as much as they can from the volatile situation in the Valley. For Pakistan, more the deaths in Kashmir more does its agenda get materialised. And for Indian secularists and activists, more the situation becomes dicey in Kashmir more they can corner the BJP. Today’s Kashmir is presenting a win win situation for both, Pakistan and Indian pseudo secularists. But, who is actually facing the brunt? It is Kashmiri youth.
When some leaders of Congress, Communists, National Conference and other regional outfits criticise the security forces for using maximum force against ‘innocent youth’, they are, in fact, encouraging more people to fall in the trap of taking to stone pelting. Instead of cautioning them against the consequences of the so-called Intifada, they are providing them license (by describing innocent) to carry forward their misadventure against the forces. The pattern of condemning the police and security forces in both India and Pakistan has almost remained the same. The merchants of death have been capitalising each killing by further provoking the youngsters to attack policemen and para-military forces by terming them as innocent (for Indians) and ‘freedom fighters’ (for Pakistan).
One of the towering opposition leaders from Jammu and Kashmir is playing a lead role in New Delhi to espouse the cause of stone-pelters and violence mongers by projecting them as innocents while another top leader from ruling dispensation in Kashmir is peeved over killing of Burhan Wani.
He makes an emotional plea, saying why wasn’t the terrorist arrested rather than being killed, as he was not ‘Osama bin Laden’. Why aren’t similar words being spoken about other terrorists, at least for two others who got killed along with Burhan? Is it soft-corner for the terrorist who is being projected as ‘youth icon’ by the so-called Kashmir mainstream? Whatever it may be, the central line of describing stone pelters as innocent is to provoke more youngsters to take to violence so that they get killed. Will Kashmiris read between the lines adopted by Paki strategists and Indian pseudo secularists? Both want them to die.
