The Mumbai Attacks: Implications for Kashmir

I recall being in Kashmir during the winter of the Lashkar-e-Taiba militant's attack on the Indian parliament in 2001. Fighter jets ripped through the crisp sky towards the Line of Control, LoC, separating Indian and Pakistan. Soldiers on the streets gripped their guns, eyes red with fear. Kashmiris waited, helplessly. It seemed the valley was bracing itself for its final breath, at the hands of its neighbors. Today, in the wake of the Mumbai attacks, India and Pakistan are right back where they were in 2001 and Kashmir is again bracing herself. It is alleged the terrorists were trained in Pakistan and member to the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba militant group, which has staged operations against Indian forces in disputed Kashmir. These allegations, if true, may result in retaliatory measures by India, resulting in further militarization of the Line of Control in Kashmir thereby jeopardizing the security of Kashmiris helplessly sandwiched between the two rival nuclear powers, Indian and Pakistan.

As a Muslim, as a Kashmiri-American, as a human being, I am outraged at the actions of the terrorists who have killed more than a 150 innocent people and injured hundreds. I ask the extremists and their supporters reading this, what have your cowardly actions achieved? The terrorists' actions have again claimed innocent lives under the name of Islam. Their irrational behavior and inhumanity have marginalized the grievances of the very victims they claim to be acting on behalf of, such as those in Kashmir and Iraq. Terrorists have again contaminated the world's image of the religion they claim to surrender to, and the militants again exacerbate the political situation of the Muslim victims they claim to help. To the militants and their supporters I say, you have again worked against the very peace and stability Kashmiris in Indian-administered Kashmir yearn for, and have died for.

International media reports have sprinkled Kashmir within the coverage of the Mumbai attacks, claiming the terrorist's sympathy for the conflict in the embattled Muslim dominated region of Kashmir, where 70,000 Kashmiris have been killed, and over 8,000 Kashmiris have disappeared since 1989. We, as a Kashmiri community must make clear that Kashmiris are against violence on innocents, and we condemn the attacks in Mumbai. Kashmiris and the civil society of Kashmir have endured crimes against humanity and attacks like today's from both Indian, Pakistani, and Kashmiri militant groups, since 1989. Kashmiris, and the Kashmiri civil society seek justice and accountability and peace for Kashmir, all of India, and the region. An example of Kashmiri civil society's resolve for peace and justice can be seen from the mass civil demonstrations last August, in which over 50 unarmed Kashmiri protesters were killed by state security forces during non-violent demonstrations. Despite the beatings and shootings, Kashmiris marched on and the maintained non-violent protest in the face of bullets and batons. The actions of those brave marchers made manifest Kashmiris' desire for a peaceful, political solution to the conflict. In addition, since President Elect Obama's recent statements that he is looking to resolve the political roots of the Kashmir conflict, Kashmiris all over have been given hope for peace and justice. Kashmiris, therefore, see militant attacks, like the one witnessed in Mumbai, as jeopardizing the political efforts of Kashmiris and the international community.

What I hope the world understands is that Kashmiris are against terrorism being that Kashmiris are themselves victims of terror on a daily basis. The terrorists seek to skew the lines of religion and national identity, and humanity and their deplorable actions end up creating more enemies for the causes they to claim to die to for. And now, fear of an Indo-Pak war has returned.

I am reminded of the nature of India and Pakistan's relationship in a line from Inheritance of Loss, by acclaimed South Asian writer Kiran Desai: "This war was not, after all, satisfying; it could never go deep enough, the crick was never cracked, the itch was never scratched; the irritation built on itself, and the combatants itched all the more."

India and Pakistan may revisit talk of war and further endanger the region with tit-for-tat violence. Or, they may both realize that they battle the same forces of extremism and terrorism. First, Pakistan should take swift action to hunt down those involved with the Mumbai attacks. Second, India and Pakistan must work towards combating terrorist hideouts. Both nations, above all else, must not yield in their efforts for peace, a peace that should incorporate the views and wishes of the Kashmiri people whose lives will undoubtedly be affected by the decisions India and Pakistan will take henceforth.

Be they Muslim, Hindu, Jew, Christian; American, British, Indian, or Pakistani, we Kashmiris pray for what every man and woman desires: a collective humanity, living under peace, justice, and accountability.

I would like to extend my condolences and prayers to the victims and the families of those affected by the heinous terrorist acts in Mumbai this week.

Comments

[MarkInEugene]

Every time I speak with Indian's they say the same thing about Kashmir, terrorism and the powder keg on the Pakistani border. What is it with this particular piece of realestate? The strife in Kashmir has been happening my entire life. There seems to be no resolution possible?

Can any Indian's or Pakistani's inform me of what keeps this area so violent? Is it religion that is fostering the hatred? Is it the endless Hindu vs Muslim battle? Is that what's behind all of this?

And also, in order for this level of violence to thrive, a very unhealthy dose of fanaticism is required.
Is Kashmir's suffering due to religous fanaticism?

[S1m0n]

"Can any Indian's or Pakistani's inform me of what keeps this area so violent?"

It's a majority muslim state ruled by Hindu-dominated india, despite the population having voted during partition to become part of Pakistan (the muslim parts of british-ruled india) rather than India, the hindu-ruled part. It's been under occupation by the indian army since then.

[MarkInEugene]

The mention of Hindu and Muslim tells me this is more religious strife on the planet. And I suspect if you dig deep enough all of this strife has religious fanticism at its core.

[nisha]

It's not that clear cut.

[VM]

It is not the real estate per se. Pre-1947, India consisted of current India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and all of Kashmir (major parts of which are now controlled by Pakistan & China). The point is even if Kashmir was made part of Pakistan today, do you really think that would stop with that? No. Next, they'll want Punjab, UP, Himachal Pradesh, etc. It just never ends with Islamic republics. Even if the entire world became an Islamic caliphate, Muslims will continue to find other reasons to glorify violence.

Look at the demands of Muslims in Britain and rest of Europe. Don't you find it audacious that there are Muslims in Britain demanding that Britain institute Sharia law? There comes a time when one has to draw a line in the sand.

[MarkInEugene]

Interesting comments thank you. I'm just trying to understand why this never ends. Especially when the border between Pakistan and India in the the Kashmir state is the Himalayas. It seems like a logic border? I have heard the encroachment argument also described by my Indian friends.

[nisha]

When the various princely states were acceding to either Pakistan or India, the state of Junagadh, where the Bhutto family comes from, briefly became part of Pakistan. The decsion was mde by the Muslim ruling family although its population was 82% Hindu, and in India, many believed that JPakistan was going to use Junagadh's accession as leverage to trade for Jammu and Kashmir, which was the mirror image, in the sense that the Maharaja was Hindu, and the population, which was only 4 million at the time, was 53% Muslim. There were Shia in the West and Sunni in the valleys. There was also a big Buddhist population in the Northeast dating back millenia, and there were the Hindu pandits in the valleys--Nehru was a Kashmiri pandit by origin. But first, Junagadh acceded to India after all, and then, after long period of indecision and waffling, with. the Kashmiri maharaja and his various largely liberal governments wanting to set up an independent state, the Pathan tribals invaded from the northwest, with help from an indeterminate quarter, probably Pakistan, and the Indian army was sent in to defend Kashmir at the Maharaja's request-- and that is still going on. More detail and much better, more granular account in Ramchandra Guha's book, 'India After Gandhi'. But see as well Time magazine from last week about Pakistani intellectuals who believe, FWIW, that the whole of India rightfully belongs to Pakistan.

[Mohsin Mohi-Ud Din - Huffpost Blogger]

Hey,

Indeed it is a very contentious issue for Indians and Pakistanis. Yet it is not just an issue of India or Pakistan. That is the problem. The Kashmir issue is too often looked at through the narrow lenses of either Pakistan and India, and the grievances and needs a rights of the people living in Kashmir becomes marginalized. A solution will never be reached in the region unless the Kashmiri civil society is free to grow and incorporated in any peace talks.

Kashmir is a vital resource for water in the region and its geography in the Himalayas gives its added strategic military significance. Thanks for your comment!

[Pejeal]

Only one comment: why the violence and ethnic cleansing perpetrated against the Hindu Pundits in Kashmir is not mentioned in your article? http://www.boloji.com/analysis2/0118.htm.
This is a big part of the reason India does not give up Kashmir, as Janmu would follow, then Punjab.

Deepak Chopra in US complains about the Gujarat riots created by "Hindu Fundamentalist", nothing he says about the cause: the burnings of the Godhra train.

Now there are barely no Hindus in Kashmir. Why? Where are the Hindu Pundits that were there for centuries? Refugees in their own country, in camps around Delhi, forgotten by their own government. They could not stay in Kashmir as the Mujaheddin exterminated them daily, everywhere.

Let's be honest and call things by their name.

[Alethia]

I agree with you, Pejeal. The grievances of the Pundits must be addressed, their shattered lives and property restored and they must be brought back to Kashmir.

There must be a reconciliation of all people in Kashmir.

[pardesi]

How many Pundits are we talking about? I wonder

[Meds]

Well said. I agree with you.

[VM]

Exactly right.

[MagisterLudi]

Congratulation, Mohi-Ud-Din. Good blog. Thank you for expressing a pragmatic and un-dogmatic view on the issue. The blogosphere needs more people like you.

[newshawk14]

I have a strong suspicion that the current Pakistani government is innocent in the Mumbai massacre.
The current government is however quite weak in terms of power, and I strongly suspect that Pakistani security organizations, who often ignore government edicts, are involved up to their eyeballs, in this operation. If this turns out to be true, I hope that Pakistani and Indian forces will cooperate in
eliminating them, both for the benefit of India and Pakistan, and our war against Al-Queda.
P.S. This is a repost, somehow the original disappeared.

[Alethia]

I have been saying it until I'm blue in the face:

Solve the Kashmir dispute between India, Pakistan and the Kashmiris and and you solve about 50% of the existing terrorism in the world.

[newshawk14]

Alethia, also solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and a peace treaty between Syria and
Israel, and you're up to about 95%. We still need to do some work with N. Korea and Iran,
but not being handicapped with an idiot in the White House will go a long way.

[MagisterLudi]

And eliminate influence of Western technology, science, culture and political egalitarianism, This threatens the hold mullahs have on the populations of Islamic countries. and enforce the fatwa against Sir Rushdie.... and remove all support form Middle Eastern states so the Jihadis have an easier time taking over the governments. And let all Euro Muslims do their Sharia thing....and don't arrest any righteous Jihadis.... anywhere in the world... ever. And let Philippines become Muslim...and also China... and let Chechnia and Dagestan become a Caliphate...
OK, ah, that's almost everything that will prevent Muslim terror. .... Well.. ah almost....

[VM]

Seriously doubt this. I'm sure Muslims will create new problems. Next they'll want Punjab, UP, HP and on and on.

[Alethia]

May god bless you, my friend.

If there were more thinking like yours, the world would be a better place...

[Bulbul]

Very passionate and thoughtful article. This attack may not be about Kashmir, only time will tell. Bombay is a city of oppertunity , the city that never sleeps, where buisness and deal making continues around the clock. It is also like any other big Indian city, the melting pot of the world , where Hindus, Muslims, Christians , Sikhs, Jews, Jains , Atheists, Agnostics live together in the same pot. Can you Imagine any Bollywood movie or a classical music festival without the presense of the muslim talants ? No. In those arenas they still live as one and like the author they also find this kind of brutal sensless attack as a merciless invasion. What I undestand, these attackers are in their teens or twenties, where is the money trail ? Where they are beig trained ? Why ? Was it preventable ?
One can not fathom to go into the mind of a terrorist, but looks to me like , polititians failed the citizens.

[newshawk14]

I have a strong suspicion that the current Pakistani government is innocent in the Mumbai
massacre. The current government is however quite weak in terms of power, and I strongly
suspect that Pakistani security organizations, who often ignored government edicts, are
involved up to their eyeballs in this operation. If this turns out to be true, I hope that Pakistani
and Indian forces will cooperate in eliminating them, both for the benefit of India and Pakistan.

[MagisterLudi]

Would that means they're not responsible for what happens on their territory? food for thought.
Cooperation would work if both parties learn to trust each other even a little bit.

[AndSoItGoes]

Good article. The media, in general, not the "Post", does a disservice to people of all faiths by validating many of the terrorist acts that have occurred, not just this series of events, by labeling the terrorists as RELIGIOUS fundamentalists. People of all faiths should be upset about that as it gives some implied form of justification for their actions. These people are nothing more than hate mongers and murderers. The media should also stop speculating about the source, motivations, and methods used by the terrorists as it misrepresents those responsible and encourages others who may be inclined to violence. The media coverage of the Mumbai events has been very irresponsible, to say the least. Report only facts and leave the rest alone. This is NOT entertainment.

[ssg13565]

Many people in this country complain that Muslims do not condemn terrorism.

Well, this Muslim author is doing just that. I applaud him for it. Reading the article in this spirit, I see no problem in adding Kashmir to the discussion if that is what is on his mind.

[riafern]

so many kashmiris are in goa & kerela shoudl we throw them out too ..no they are all Indians we should learn to live in peace together ...throw the idiot terrorist out ...tomr the will start fighting for some place in US where there are enough muslims will you give that place too???

[riafern]

every Indian longs for peace ,why are the Kashmiris any diff , I come from a minority grp in India too ,but I openly love my motherland ( I love my adopted country US too ) So I a christian ,must my christian bros & sis fight for my state to separate too .what people do not understand before all this militant mess kashmiris had a lovely place we Indians were not even allowed to buy ....it was theirs to keep till the great muslims bros from the other side of border came to fight for freedom ...so Indians are afraid of breaking up into pieces ...the sikhs learnt to live without a separate state ,why should the Kashmiris get spl treatment ...should Goa go to the christians ..no never we are a part of India & we proudly live peacefully ...

[BurtR]

Physically, Kashmir is one of the most beautiful places on earth. It is very sad that it is in conflict

[Neemni]

This is not about Kashmir and no Muslim Kashmiri shed even a solitary a tear for the near extermination of the state's Hindu minority. This is about a failed country exhorting the terrorists it harbors to wreak havoc on a neighbor that by all counts is more successful and rapidly pulling away. This heinous act was planned to divert the world's intensifying scrutiny from a country that harbors the worst terrorist groups in the world.

May the world unite to stop this from ever happening again.

[Libertarian78]

This is NOT about Kashmir.
You know that and please don't make it out to be.
Pakistan's military and a large fringe element of Pakistan's population is jealous of India's progress.

This is an attack on symbols of economic progress. Nothing more and nothing less.

Please don't use this tragedy to plug Kasmir.