Kashmir: Paradise lost? more....

"Ro rahi hai ye zameen,
Ro raha hai aasamaan..."

"The Earth is shedding tears,
The sky is shedding tears"

I understand the sentiment... I hope we all understand the true implications of our actions.

Do we want to go with one side or the other? Is going one way really better than the other? Have we looked at all our options? Is there another invisible party involved? Will any one side much rather keep fueling the unrest in that region? So many questions...



Well- some of my answers- still getting clarity on some came in from a surprising source- NPR. NPR or National Public Radio has been my source of good, unbiased opinion from a mix of interviews and very level headed comments from listeners. I'm talking about this afternoon broadcast that came about the NorthWest province in Pakistan and exactly what was going on.

The Taliban, the law enforcements and the locals. A triangle, right? But no- that's not what it is. There is so much more to it than meets the eye. The locals are tired of innocents getting shot. Don't know if you know this but very much like Kashmir, the NorthWest Province is one of the most picturesque places in the world. Just like Kashmir, their main economy was tourism. Now, all the people who could afford to move out, have moved out of that area. The people who stay on are staying there because they don't have a choice and after all, they are Paththaans! Paththaans are too proud and and loyal to abandon the place their birthplace.

They are not thrilled about the fact that the only economy that works there is the war economy. And their description of 'War economy' is not the sale of guns but rather a funny equation that the politics in that region has going there, an it is the same equation that has come in to play wherever the USA has tried to play the Big Brother/Bully and tried to make things work a certain way.

Don't get it? It is simple- USA begs Pakistan to help combat terrorism. Pakistan says- it is hard- they would need to take a stand against other Muslim countries. USA pressures them. Pakistan says OK.. but it will cost a lot. USA eagerly agrees to keep paying for supposedly keeping things under control. Does it make sense for anyone to really do anything to control the outbursts? Why should they do anything other than keep a straight face and say they are doing their best. At the end of the day, both law-enforcers and the Taliban take a share of the US pay-off and US feels they are doing their share- they are, after all footing the bill.

And can the US simply bury its head in sand and hope everything will be fine - the storm blow over by the time they look up? Can the US face the generations to come and say they really understood the situation? It is not the US at fault either- with no real understanding of how things work in those parts of the world, they are simply at a loss. Not familiar with the traditions and the culture of the region- they are hoping the ones the have chosen to sleep with, will be faithful.

Am I accusing Pakistan? Heavens no! It is the birthplace of my ancestors I would never wish anything bad to happen to Pakistan or the people there. Ever. But I do not like lazy politics. I am against politicians who put their own interests ahead of other all the time.

Am I happy with the way Indian politicians are making this turn in to a communal fight? No. I am ashamed of the fact that Indian politicians have been actively fueling the fire- not letting the wounds heal. So easily forgetting the fact that it has always been the Kashmiris who made sure all the yatras (pilgrimages) went on smoothly for all these years.

Same story for Kashmir as far as the violence goes. The right to vote for their choice of whether they want to stay with India, or Pakistan or frankly be on their own, should not be mixed with this. That is a fundamental right that the people have and they should be given a choice to do that.

That said, all of Kashmir should be allowed to stay violence free and truly peaceful for say a period of 12 months and then let all of Kashmir vote. Independent or not, it should be the people's choice.

And the people need to understand that their vote should not be an emotional vote.They have to understand that their vote will affect the generations to come.



All I can say is-

"O saare jag ke rakhwaale,
Nirbal ko, Bal dene waale;
Balwaano ko, De de, gyan.

Allah tero naam,
Ishwar tero naam.
Sab ko sammati de Bhagwaan."

Not a perfect translation-

"O caretaker of the whole world,
The One who give strength to the weak;
Please give some wisdom to the strong.

Some call you Allah, While others call you Ishwar.
Please give everyone the ability to think and do good."

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