Kashmir Affairs - Security & Conflict Analysis of Kashmir

Did anything happen to Muslims at that time?
Yes, of course, the Muslims were also tense, they also faced atrocities. But despite this, they also tried to save the Hindus.

How have people been affected here from militancy and the conflict in general?
Whether Hindu or Muslim, both have been affected. It is in the rural areas that the militants are mainly located, and hence it is there that people suffer. They are coerced to provide food and they [militants] don’t spare anyone. Whatever national forces there are, be they the army or the police, they are all under the militants’ target. It is the local people that live in fear and are affected, but the government does not recognise this. Those who are militants, those who have picked up the gun; the government are willing to give them all kind of facilities. They give 2 lakhs to surrendered militants but nothing to the victims of militancy. In addition, militancy led to the migration of people from rural to the urban areas, even to Jammu. This led to tension in the cities due to congestion and encroachment. Even the Muslims have been affected by militants, but most Muslims here can’t talk about it due to fear.

Why do you think the militants do this?
Just like in the Valley, the militants want Hindus out; from Rajouri, Poonch and Doda. They think if there is just one type of community, the way they want it, then their purpose will be fulfilled. What I mean to say is that militants are given incorrect directions from Pakistan from which they develop misperceptions about Muslims and their religious freedom in India. But when they come here, they see that their perceptions are wrong. Even those people who went to Pakistan to meet their relatives say that we have more religious freedom in India than those in Pakistan.

What role does Pakistan have in militancy?
Pakistan, on one side is offering friendship but on the other side they are supporting militancy, including training them. They need to stop this and recall all the militants. Thus, their [Pakistan’s] heart is not sincere. The media in Pakistan also lies about this; they say that the militants have come here for the cause of freedom, but I think there are all types of freedom here, there is pooja in mandirs, namaaz in mosques, but Pakistan is run by dictatorship. There is not the freedom there that we have here.

Why do you think this conflict is still continuing after 59 years?
A lot of confusion has been created about this issue; it is stated that there is no issue left of Kashmir to resolve, but one issue is that azaad Kashmir, the part occupied by Pakistan, is not resolved. This confusion is mainly the fault of George Bush and Congress and thus it is difficult to resolve the conflict. There are also vested interests, for example for the ‘kursi’ [chair] of leaders.

Do you think the international community has any role to in resolving the conflict?
We need to stand on our own two feet and have less hope on others to assist us.

What else then needs to be done in moving towards a resolution?
India and Pakistan should also act with sincerity and the dialogue process must include people from all different parties, then it will only be beneficial. Also Pakistan needs to address militancy in its country and recall the militants.

Do you think the Line of Control should be made into an international border?
In this dialogue process that is currently going on, Pakistan should return what Pakistan calls Azad Kashmir and what we call ‘gulam’ [occupied] Kashmir. History shows that Pakistan has started all the wars between the two countries.

What are your views of the Indian forces here?
The Indian forces role is very good; generally they are disciplined and proper, but there are isolated cases of atrocities. They give medical aid, provide transport for locals, help orphans and so on, but some people want to give the Indian forces a bad name. The Special Task Force here is made up of local people from the Hindu, Muslim and Sikhs here. There are no communal tensions here as before.

Why is it that the Kashmiri Pandits left the valley?
In 1990 about 3,000 Kashmiri Pandits left the Valley as they felt threatened. No one wants to leave their homes voluntary. This migration is also the weakness or the fault of Congress and their policies. They should have controlled it in the first place.

What do you think most people here want to be with?
Rajouri and Poonch want to be with India. But first and foremost we want peace; there is currently a dialogue going on between the two nations and we hope this to continue. I want Hindus and Muslims to live peacefully here. This nation belongs to all, whoever they believe in.

Rajouri Town, Jammu, 26^th Nov 2006

Kuldip Raj Gupta, 70, is recognized for providing a lifelong service with BJP; for the last 40 years he has been working for the BJP (Bharatya Janata Party) in various capacities including as Vice President, and currently as General Secretary in J&K he still has responsibilities to look over the whole of the J&K state. He has also served as a member of National Council for BJP and has represented both Hindu and Muslims at the political level.

What was your experience of the 1947 partition?
I was born here in Rajouri and was aged 11 at the time of partition during which for 6 months we were attacked by Pakistan. 20,000 Hindus in total died due to the Pakistani invasion. This was upon communal lines where 15,000 men were killed and 5,000 Hindu women committed suicide to save their honour. This actually happened in front of me, and during this time my family were also captured and I was also going to be massacred, chopped up, but some one had pity on me.