One of the most unfortunate outcomes of India-Pakistan conflicts is the radicalisation of Indian and Pakistani Muslims. The transnational solidarity of Islam has been resulting in Muslims from India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, but also from Egypt, Bosnia and other countries joining the fight against Indian oppression.
Radicalization and militancy have made its worst impact on Pakistan itself. The same way as the ongoing unresolved Palestinian conflict has been radicalizing Arab Muslims the decades of Kashmir conflict have done the same in the region and beyond. In Kashmir, two generations of young people have been born and grown up while never experiencing peace and happiness. For them fighting and weapons, death and brutalities are day to day normality. How can they be peaceful and teach peace to their children?
The solution of the Kashmir conflict is one of the pre-conditions for improvement of the relations between India and Pakistan as well as for any meaningful fight against militancy. But we have to keep in mind that this conflict is not a bilateral one but it has a third party: the Kashmiri’s. They have been fighting and sacrificing their lives and their happiness. In any conflict resolution their input can not be neglected.
Any calls of course for any other foreign intervention or mediation, be it the US or the UN, which has abundantly proven its incapacity or any support from the EU are out of question simply because majority of Kashmiri’s are Muslim. The West dominated by Christians has its own interests which they will further in the first place and they dont want to know much about the ground realties in the subcontinent. A first half hearted step towards an easing of the situation if not towards a resolution has been taken by the last government by working for contacts between the two Kashmir’s through easing of visa restrictions and small border traffic along the Line of Control, which is only to deprive their birth right of freedom.
ALI ASHRAF KHAN
Karachi