No India-Pak talks possible till stone pelting continues

Vijay Raina: President KSD

   Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti's suggestion that India and Pakistan should settle the Kashmir issue through talks is an impractical speculation. Pakistan is waging a proxy war against India. War and dialogue cannot go together. Separatists and their sympathisers are organising pelting of stones on security forces. Terrorists, pushed into the state, or supported by Pakistan, are launching attacks on offices and residential places of the security forces.

Three hundred Pakistani terrorists are waiting in the border areas of Jammu and Kashmir in search of opportunities to infiltrate into the state and indulge in violent acts there. Two hundred and twenty of them are, currently, in the south of the Pir Panchal range; 225 are in the northern areas of that range. How can talks be held in such circumstances/ It is the primary duty of the Indian Army to protect the borders. Similarly, it is the duty of the J&K Police and the Central Reserve Police Force to see to it that law and order situation does not worsen. When such security forces, on duty, are showered stones, how can they remain silent? How can talks help in such an atmosphere? The security forces are functioning like a fire brigade and dousing fire from time to time.

The conflict, in such circumstances, is between the fire and fire brigade. How can, there be friendship between the two opposing forces? How can a person have reasonable dialogue with another one who intends to harm him and kill him through violent means?

Jammu and Kashmir was a peaceful region till October 22,1947. The ruling Maharaja was in a wait-and-see mood. He had to take a decision whether he would continue to remain independent, or join one of the two dominions. The then tallest leader of the state Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah sent two of his trusted and senior leaders to Pakistan. They were told to convey to the founder of that country Mohammad Ali Jinnah that the state would like to join Pakistan, if Mr. Jinnah would allow it to keep the subjects of foreign affairs, defence and currency with the central government and allow the state have control over the other subjects. Mr. Jinnah refused to see" the two Kashmiri leaders for three days. Then his   secretary   intervened  and requested him to grant them an interview. Jinnah used to feel below his dignity to even use the proper name of Sheikh Abdullah. He used to call him 'tall man'. He told the two leaders: Tell that tall fellow that he should not try to have some subjects with the state; Kashmir is in my pocket.

Instead of waiting for any further talks, Jinnah provided arms to tribal residents, sent Pak regular troops to help them and told the tribal men that when they acquire Srinagar, the territory will become Pakistan's and looted cash and kind and women would belong to the tribesmen. The tribal men indulged in rape, arson and loot but failed to take Srinagar. The Maharaja acceded to India and Indian Air Force planes flew to roops to the valley who drove away the tribesmen and the Pakistan army. When Indian troops landed in Srinagar, Jinnah told the Pak nation: Now, Indian troops will never come out of Kashmir. There is no instance in world history in which once troops occupy an area they leave it of their own.

That was the beginning of the end of India-Pakistan talks. Later, Pakistan incited the majority population of the valley in creating a fear psychosis among the Kashmiri Pandits by using mosques raising slogans asking Pandits to either leave the valley or get killed. There were, also slogans that Pandits should leave behind their women folk.

Pakistan launched military attacks three times, but failed in its endeavour. Now, some Kashmiri politicians feel that what has not been able to achieve through wars may be possible through talks, but talks can be held when Pakistan stops resorting to violent acts which includes attack on security force institutions and pelting stones on security force personnel because dialogue and violence cannot go hand-in-hand.

Excerpts  from the President's Desk: Vijay Raina

Courtesy: Koshur Samachar March 2018