Why Kashmiris Are Being Alienated?

The latest unrest in the Jammu and, Kashmir Valley over Amarnath land issue followed by economic blockade of Kashmir has raised an urgent need for quick resolution of Kashmir problem. There was a time when the valley was blossoming with tourists and business from around the world. Since the time the terrorism has invaded the state, the place has turned a mere toy in the hands of politicians, terrorists and the security forces.
Kashmir – a disputed land since the independence, has been a favourite possession for both, Pakistan as well as India. Therefore, the Pakistani government backed up the terrorism in the state to create unrest there. Pakistan government has been successful to a great extent in creating anti-India movement in the state. And, it became visible during the recent protests and agitation in the valley when the protesters yelled pro-Pakistan slogans, and openly raised voices to be a part of Pakistan.
Although, the National Conference President Omar Abdullah claimed, "ISI and Pakistan had no role in it." But it is to be understood that ISI has been propelling the fuel for over two decades by patronizing terrorism to push such a civilian unrest in the valley. It was an objective of Pakistan Government that became successful after so many years of its continuous efforts of creating a havoc among the people by boosting militancy in the state. And, rest of the task has been done by the Indian Government, who has been sleeping like ‘Kumbhakarna’ for more than 60 years.
None of the Indian leader has ever tried to create a sense of security, confidence and integrity among the Kashmiris. There have never been any conscious efforts to strengthen the basic structure of the state. Moreover, the government could not even build an alternative road or rail link between the valley and the rest of the country. Look at China, it has now connected the whole of Tibet with road and rail networks. Moreover, China is all set to establish a rail link with Kathmandu in Nepal, which should have been done by India a long time back.

The Kashmir conflict (Hindi: कश्मीर विवाद, Urdu: مسئلہ کشمیر)

The conflict in Kashmir dates to the partition of India in 1947. The State of Jammu & Kashmir was at this time majority Muslim but with a Hindu ruler, and it was unclear whether it would accede to Pakistan or India. Its eventual accession to India became a matter of dispute between the two countries, with both India and Pakistan claiming ownership of Kashmir. After a brief war in 1947-48, Kashmir was divided between Pakistan and India administered territories. A ceasefire line was agreed under UN Supervision, which has since been renamed the ‘Line of Control’. Around one third of the territory has since been administered by Pakistan, with the remainder administered by India, including Kashmir Valley, which has a strong Muslim majority.
Further wars have broken out between India and Pakistan in Kashmir in 1965 and 1999, whilst there is also a Kashmir separatist movement. To further complicate matters in the region, the border with China is also disputed. India does not recognise the border established after war between India and China in 1962. China has traditionally diplomatically favoured Pakistan though relations with India have improved in recent years.
Given the apparently irreconcilable territorial claims in Kashmir, there is no immediate end in sight to this conflict. Now that both India and Pakistan are in possession of nuclear weapons, the stakes in this conflict are of global significance. In this difficult context, local peacebuilders work to diffuse tensions. This work is vital when the potential for local violence to spark larger conflicts carries such huge dangers

Human Rights & Humanitarian Law

Humanitarian law is an international body of rules, which, in wartime, protects persons who are not or are no longer participating in the hostilities and restricts the means and methods of warfare. Its central purpose is to limit and prevent human suffering in times of armed conflict. Two basic rules of humanitarian law are the prohibition of employing weapons or methods of warfare of a nature to cause unnecessary losses or excessive suffering (e.g. chemical and/or biological weapons), and the commitment to distinguish between civilian and combatants in times of war. While humanitarian law applies in situations of armed conflict, international human rights law, being tailored primarily for peacetime, applies at all times. Its principal goal is to protect individuals from unjust and/or cruel behavior by their own governments. International human rights law states that the right to life, the prohibition of torture and inhuman punishment or treatment, slavery and servitude, and the principle of legality and non-retroactivity of the law must be respected in all circumstances. It also stipulates that states must guarantee rights to self-determination, property, due process, fair working conditions, access to health care, and education.