On going through the news of the day no one can left Kashmir in denial for a moment not to found space. “When they (kashmiri’s) are shouting azaadi, all they mean is Autonomy” said former Finance Minister of central government in reference to overall security environment of Kashmir which has deteriorated continuously from 2016 uprising and seems unending though in its moderate phase now. Let’s be back to trace golden periods from historical perspective which reads J&K, one of 562 princely states which got right to determine their future from British empire in their entirety either to join any of newly emerged countries or to remain independent. Barring some history behind the scene our state acceded with India on certain conditionalities. But, the agreement couldn’t make faces for stability due to enraged neighbour and subsequently paved way to tribal attacks etc. Thus international intervention obviously got Hobson’s choice to end the crisis.
The international intervention came through Maverick J.L Nehru’s ample faith and thus led the crisis to table of UNSC. Though the discussion went through serious debate but eventually favoured kashmir RIGHT TO SELF DETERMINATION 1948 and struck the cord rightly by favouring British policy towards Kashmir in layman’s language. The resolution sent coals to new castle and brought lot of hopes for teeming millions to taste glimpse of peace and prosperity. For India to abide by the resolution there arose the trend to certainty as the dispute was internationalized by India itself. But to its bad luck international law is not backed by any action if it’s not of immediate interest to big powers.
There are two dynamic and interlinked facts to the unrealized dream of plebiscite at its core. Internal compulsions of Indian politics and external big power politics which can be held guilty in court of justice in crystal clear manner. But for why India couldn’t came to expectations of UNSC? The answer seems easy that it didn’t want to implement them in its interest. But to a deeper analysis something hidden comes to fore. The international history traces the event with initiation of COLD WAR (AN IDEOLOGICAL CONFRONTATION BETWEEN US AND USSR FOR SUPREMACY). To prove their superiority the power vacuum of Asia say for example was heavily utilized for big power politics, thus paved way to conflict through length and breadth of planet between capitalism and communism.
Cold war sent shivers down one’s spine to newly emerged countries and consequently got Pakistan in capitalism net. Though ours was the different case like NAM but it can’t be denied that the supporting arm in shape of USSR was always present there in international foura for us. Thus the atmosphere at international level viewed every dispute of whatsoever nature it has from prism of cold war politics. Therefore the resolutions passed by UNSC got engaged in big power politics and subsequently lacked the implementation force. Thus much hyped euphoria hugged its fate of sustenance and still survives. Coming back home the domestic environment was not somewhat different.
Indian politics remained congress dominated for decades which could see the future of Kashmir through democratic prism but the in and around environment provide ample sunshine and atmosphere for suspicion to survive. Indo-Pak and Indo-Chinese wars shared a lot to it. Thus the dispute was read more as international as that of domestic problem. Because the state got divided in a come manner in 1947 and therefore the plebiscite choice was not easy to implement either. There remains a huge chunk with belligerent Pakistan and China Bapu, I would like to call for its bargaining power through economic advantage. Therefore no formula could be agreed as the suspicion could be well read whenever ones likes to trace indo pak relations.
Then onwards the dispute stepped up the ladder and got consolidated for further through SIMLA PACT, which changed the fate of dispute forever. As our country now relies on this fact much more than other say Pakistan which assiduously uses the UN platform to raise the dispute of stature one again. The dispute now seems all in all a perverted form without any element of ambiguity as the basic issue has been sent to back burner. Our country oft repeats the dispute as law and order issue thus following a lackadaisical approach which is of no avail to unite once prosperous region as J&K in entirety from Pak, India and China. The present geopolitical situation of world at large seems unsatisfactory to assure its resolution once for all and the case is no more different at home. The dynamic changes the country witnessed the demand of plebiscite seems an uphill task barring the exception that we are stuck to the demand from political point of view. The irony of ours is that the dispute has lost its relevance as POLITICAL DISPUTE in power corridors of New Delhi
Kashmir awaits the intellect of J.L.NEHRU to implement UNSC resolutions. To conclude is to remind the saying that ” the new broom sweeps clean but the old broom knows the corners “. Until and unless we couldn’t read writing on wall from historical point of view the vision of prosperity lists its relevance in blink of eye. Here lies the space for UNSC and prestigious personalities like NEHRU to clean sweep the long standing dispute in entirety to fulfill the aspirations of teeming millions and of course save humanity from any disaster in future. Let’s say goodbye to repeated wars like 47 and 65. We the kashmiris aspire peace and stability on nip and tuck lines which humanity deserves. Let’s be hopefull………….
Shahid Majeed Mir can be reached at mirshahid363@gmail.com
