It looks that the spillover of Kashmir unrest is going to shift to Punjab borders with Pakistani political and militant groups planning to stage protest on the eve of India’s Independence Day as ‘black day’ to express solidarity with the Kashmiri separatists and march towards Wagah border in Punjab. By staging protest on the other side of the border these groups are trying to make the Kashmir unrest as a world issue concerning human rights violations and to garner sympathy for their divisive cause. It could also be possible they must be trying to revive the sleeping links of militancy in Punjab. The Pakistani security agencies on Sunday stopped the march of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) supporters towards India-Pakistan border at Jallo Maur, about seven km from Wagah where besides fundamental political leaders like JI’s chief Siraj-ul-Haq, Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Sayeed and Hizbul Mujahideen commander Syed Salahuddin were also among those who delivered inflammatory speeches to incite passions in favour of Kashmiri separatist leaders. The 26/11 Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafiz Sayeed had joined the march at Naseer Bagh, from where it commenced, but didn’t accompany the participants as they were stopped by Pakistan Police and Pakistan Rangers at Jallo Maur. Unrest in Kashmir serves as political fodder for these militant organisations, which they use to further exploit the situation to make their presence felt in the region with active support of Pakistan Government. JI chief had also announced to observe Indian Independence Day as ‘black day’. Sayeed’s backing Jamaat-e-Islami movement in support of Kashmiri separatists was a matter of concern, given their attempts to show strength at Punjab border and not near Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir. International Boundary in Punjab with Pakistan is well defined which is peaceful except during war times. Militant leaders’ show of strength across the border would only encourage certain elements among them to infiltrate through Punjab’s border and play havoc in a region which has abundance of high valued targets. Every day, thousands of Indians and Pakistanis flock to watch the elaborate show where border security officials kick their feet high and grimace in mock aggression in a peacock-like display of patriotism. It is one of the only chances regular citizens from the two countries get to observe each other so targeting such a soft target no doubt makes headlines in news bulletin and news papers.
