Faizah Gilani
Since the revocation of Article 370 back in August 2019, Prime Minister Imran Khan has been vocal on the issue of Kashmir. Referring to himself as the Ambassador for the people of Kashmir, Imran Khan has highlighted the Kashmiri struggle on international platforms such as the UN (United Nations), as well as exposing Modi government’s Hindutva ideology backed designs to the international media.
Prime Minister Imran Khan’s vocal stance on Kashmir and its right to self determination is a welcome change in comparison to previous governments that tiptoed around the issue. However, where the current government has been proactive over Kashmir, there are also some areas that need attention.
Whenever there is debate on Kashmir, it is extremely important for the Kashmiri diaspora to be included and for their opinions to be taken on board. There is a very vocal and proactive Kashmiri community in particular within Europe and the UK that have kept the Kashmiri struggle alive through their activism and commitment.
Unfortunately, the current government appears to be making the similar mistake of past governments by ignoring real Kashmiri voices. This was evident when Chairman Parliamentary Committee on Kashmir, Shehryar Khan Afridi, recently announced a new initiative aimed at preserving Kashmiri culture.
According to Shehryar Afridi, an advisory board has been formed comprising of high-profile personalities from the field of sports and cinema. The board will “advise on measures to preserve and nurture heritage, culture and sports of Jammu and Kashmir and its amalgamation with Pakistan.”
The Chairman’s intentions may be noble, but his initiative is deeply flawed. The individuals forming the advisory board are successful people that have made a significant contribution within their respective fields. However, these individuals are not qualified for such a task. A couple of them have Kashmiri roots, but none of these public figures hold an understanding or in-depth knowledge of Kashmiri culture.
The people of Kashmir have their own culture, tradition, and language that they are immensely proud of, and have kept intact, despite India’s efforts to erode “Kashmiriyat,” and strip the Kashmiri people of their identity. This is where Pakistan’s approach must be completely different to India. Only Kashmiri people reserve the right to protect and preserve their culture heritage. Celebrities living in cosmopolitan cities such as Lahore and Karachi cannot preserve it.
One must, however, acknowledge the support and activism by some of these celebrities, film star Shaan Shahid, for example. The actor/director has been very vocal on the issue of Kashmir and is not one to shy away from expressing his views. While such sentiments are appreciated, it cannot compensate for proper knowledge and understanding of Kashmiri culture.
Shehryar Afridi and his team should have consulted Kashmiris from across the globe that could have guided him in the right direction. It would have made sense if Kashmiri activists, Human Rights NGOs, and those belonging to the academia were reached out to. Instead, this initiative looks glossy and gimmicky and quite frankly, meaningless.
The Kashmiri diaspora, the youth in particular, are highly active on social media and most voices are critical of this new development. Many of them regard Pakistan as an ally in their struggle and therefore expectations are high. But disapproval does not end with this advisory committee.
The failure of the Kashmir Committee in making any positive contribution towards the Kashmir cause has more than often been a focal point for discussion. It unfortunately continues to remain ineffective and without real purpose. It is time to either revamp the Committee and include Kashmiris that have a better understanding of the Kashmiri struggle, or for the Committee to be scrapped altogether.
Perhaps the latter is the better option out of the two. This is a war that needs to be fought on the diplomatic front which is why the Ministry of Foreign Affairs must be strengthened and fully equipped. The Foreign Office has also faced its portion of criticism, with some arguing that other than friendly allies such as Turkey and Malaysia, the Foreign Office has not been able to convince others of India’s aggressive designs.
This criticism, however, is too harsh and is part of a simplistic view that dismisses the complexities within world politics. This is not the government and Foreign Office’s inability to explain Kashmir to the rest of the world, because world leaders are well aware of what is going on.
This has more to do with the fact that they are willing to turn a blind eye to protect self interest and to ensure that trade and other deals are not compromised. This is something that Prime Minister Imran Khan himself has openly acknowledged. And with Covid-19 wreaking havoc across the globe, Kashmir finds itself once again side-lined as we face a global crisis in the form of this pandemic.
World leaders and governments are naturally prioritising at this point in time, with emphasis on keep citizens safe and protecting their economy. And Pakistan is no different. With a deadly second wave, Pakistan too has its burden. Under current circumstances, it will be a new challenge for Pakistan to stop Kashmir from being pushed to the back of the queue.
Whenever Pakistan has spoken of Kashmir, it has always been within the United Nation’s framework. A peaceful solution to Kashmir in accordance with the UN resolutions continues to be Pakistan’s stance and that is how it should remain.
But also, wherever possible, Pakistan must use other international platforms to continuously highlight the plight of the Kashmiri people, even if it may seem a daunting task in a world that fails to look beyond personal interest and benefits. But what is equally important, is for the government of Pakistan, through the Foreign Office, to reach out to the Kashmiri diaspora.
Global voices of Kashmiris must be heard, and their grievances understood, and ideas accommodated. When it is said that Kashmir belonging to Kashmiris, then one must walk the talk. Narendra Modi’s India is hell-bent on silencing Kashmiri voices that do not sing to India’s tune. But Pakistan must ensure that those voices are not left to simply echo in the background.
Prime Minister Imran Khan has often spoken of the youth and how they play a key role towards the betterment of Pakistan. The same applies to Kashmir as well. Pakistan should take note of what the Kashmiri youth have to say because they are active on social media and are strongly opinionated.
And if there is backlash to Shehryar Afridi’s latest initiative then it must be looked in to. The government needs to refrain from gimmicks such gimmicks involving celebrities. It looks childish and undermines the seriousness of the Kashmir cause. The preservation of Kashmiri culture is a genuine concern, but it cannot be preserved by a panel sitting in Pakistan.
This sort of idea also sends out the wrong signals, making it look as though Pakistan is trying to counter India by claiming its own stake in Kashmir. Pakistan’s stance has always supported Kashmir’s right to self-determination, and it should always remain that way. Any idea or design that appears to challenge this must not be pushed forward.
Revoking article 370 was an act of aggression by Narendra Modi and signalled an escalation towards its Hindutva ideology. Over time India has become more and more brazen with its approach towards Kashmir and sees itself as invincible.
Now the Kashmir cause has reached a point of no return. There is no other option but to push for demilitarization of Kashmir and for a referendum to take place under the guidance of the UN. At this point in time it may seem impossible to achieve. But India has taken its nefarious designs too far, it is now all or nothing. Pakistan must keep its eye on the ball and not side-track with silly ideas that hold no merit.
The writer has studied History and Politics at Queen Mary, University of London. And Near and Middle East Studies at SOAS, University of London.
