Kashmir Affairs - Security & Conflict Analysis of Kashmir

Kashmiri Friend
Rahul Mukherji
24 September 2008

I have a Kashmiri friend whose Web pages are full of nostalgic memories of his once beautiful, now bloody valley. His small brother stares in wonder when he points out his land in old Hindi movies. He has many friends, Kashmiri friends. There is no religion on the line. There are Sikhs, Hindu Brahmins and Muslims who ran away from terrorism. They all have one thing in common; there is no place they can call home.

How do I console my friend, whose eyes well up when he talks about the friends left behind, his fears when he was there? Should I take India's side or Pakistan's? How do I tell him I really do not understand his pain? I do not. I know and have a place I can call home. I know I can show my kids my great grandfather's house. I know I will swell with pride when I show my kids my school, my playground, my trees... I take for granted that my kids would always know the land I come from, the culture, the language, the festivals, the smell of my place. I do not know the pain of not having a home. I have not lost any of my close friends to terrorism. I have not felt the fear when you don't have a place to go.

Well, then, how do I share his pain? With what words do I console my friend? Should I tell him it is getting better? Indian and Pakistani governments are talking now. Vajpayee visited Lahore. Mushraff visited Agra and wants to talk to Hurriyat. How do I make sure he doesn't see it's all a political game? What words do I search for when he tells me no one understands his pain? No politician, no journalist, no soldier, no militant, no other Indian other than they themselves who lost everything? Should I be cruel and tell him to thank God for saving his life?

Can I tell him with sincerity that one day he will be able to show his kids the apple trees, the snow-covered mountains and the beautiful Dal Lake of his valley? When I see the pain in his eyes, I somehow feel I am at fault. I feel guilty. I feel guilty for having that false pride, the false patriotism I share. Does patriotism mean I have to hate someone? I am not sure. But this is the way it is in India and Pakistan. I hope I can find some words to console my friend.

In an atmosphere of violence where killings and counter killings have become the norm, the first casualty is the right to life of the ordinary citizen in Kashmir. And unless these assaults on human rights and dignity are reported and judicially remedied, there is hardly any hope for the thousands of children orphaned by violence, the widows, and the victims of torture. I strongly believe we need peace in Kashmir and not pieces of Kashmir. This peace can only be achieved through restoration of the dignity and rights of the people.

BOTH INDIAN AND PAKISTANI GOVERNMENTS OF THE PAST AND THE PRESENT ARE AT FAULT. BOTH INDIAN ARMY AND PAKISTANI ARMY ARE VIOLATING HUMAN RIGHTS IN KASHMIR. EACH AND EVERY INDIVIDUAL OF BOTH COUNTRIES ARE TO BE BLAMED FOR IT.

Lastly, to those of you who think that the actions of the violence in Kashmir symbolize their strength and patriotism, I would just say: "If these are patriots, I would prefer being a traitor." I wish to pray: "If this is strength...please God, give us weakness."