And Indian oppression
The Indians might just have over-reached and done their own Kashmir plan a world of harm. That, of course, is if the international community will live up to its own set standards of acceptable state behaviour in the 21st century. On the other hand, if the world that matters continues to nurture its trade and IT linkages with New Delhi, even in face of its brutal occupation in Kashmir, then little will be allowed to change. Yet this latest uprising is already different from the ones that have come and gone, and it has begun changing trends.
For one thing, Delhi has not been able to fall back on its usual ‘terrorists from Pakistan’ rhetoric. The murder of Burhan Wani has stimulated indigenous Kashmiri groups into action. The hundreds of thousands that have taken to the streets have already blunted this particular policy position adopted by the Indians. Now it is not ‘terrorists from Pakistan’ that occupation forces are facing in the Valley. It is the people of the area itself, fed up with the unfairness and burden of the occupation. Unless the BJP heeds saner counsel immediately, it might also find its (so far) effective diplomatic outreach suddenly somewhat limited.
Pakistan must take very calculated decisions at this point. Unfortunately there is too much internal political breakdown for the government to give foreign policy, especially unforeseen incidents like this, the attention it deserves. And it’s not just India that sticks out. The Afghans, the Americans, the Iranians; pretty much everybody is unhappy with Pakistan at the moment. And declaring Black Days is appreciated because of its symbolism. But Islamabad needs to do more that is quantifiable. It must make sure that India’s brutality is no longer hidden from the world. Once important international platforms finally ralise the nature of the Indian occupation, they will be able to build momentum enough to rally the kind of support that matters. Otherwise there is little hope for Kashmir.