Declaration
of Independence by Kosovo and its acceptance by some states has raised a
new dilemma for multi cultural and multi ethnic societies as India. With
festering sores in parts of the Sub Continental giant seeking self rule,
Kosovo’s declaration portends many controversies in the Year ahead.
Yet the fundamental difference between Kosovo and the situation obtained
in Kashmir or Nagaland two of the most deeply entrenched separatist
movements in the country, gives confidence that these provinces will not
break away. The fundamental reason for this remains the contrast in
national philosophy. India is not as much a state as a civilization
comprising of many communities, ethnicities, cultures, languages and
religions. The Constitution of the country decrees upon its citizens to
co join and cohabitate rather than dissipate. On the other hand, Kosovo
is an attempt at mono ethnic state formation which is far removed from
the Indian experience.
What is more is that Indians from those parts which were feeling
alienated are coming together after years of estrangement, recognizing
that only multi ethnic societies have survived and prospered in the
World. India and China are the two salient examples each boasting of
5000 years of history. The United States on the other hand shows how
despite a short span of state formation, a multi ethnic society, can be
a primary economic and political power in the globe where a second
generation American as Obama can aspire to be the President. Such an
accelerated rise to the top cannot be imagined in a monotheist society.
And more and more people are realizing that they cannot survive in
states which are community ghettos.
So have the Kashmiris rejected an insular society. On the Maha shivratri
day, Kashmiri pandits were joined by their Muslim brethren in a newly
developed colony on the outskirts of Srinagar in Badgam district to
celebrate the festival. The human tragedy of Kashmir is indeed quite
grave. Yet greater transparency indicates confidence in civil society of
the State’s intent to reduce suffering by insisting on accountability.
Nagaland on the other hand has gone through a process of state elections
which is representative of the will and aspirations of the people.
Preliminary results have revealed that those parties which fought on the
agenda of Nagolim or its closest equivalent envisaging creation of an
inclusive Naga state have not benefited from propagating this in their
election agenda.
Separatist movements in these states are now hostage to warped
institutionalization, where those who are at the forefront of the
agitation have hijacked the original will of the people to foster their
own agenda. On the other hand the factor of continued external support
cannot be overlooked.
In Kashmir for instance reports of the Inter Service Intelligence (ISI)
having imposed a, “tactical pause” has possibly led militants to buy
arms from the underground arms network which may substantially drop
their strike potential. Yet there is a need for caution for a former
militant leader and an over ground activist is reported to have told
Hindustan Times: "When I was in Pakistan last year, I asked ISI officers
why they keep sending militants to Kashmir despite the ceasefire and the
Indo-Pak dialogue. Their answer was: We cannot dismantle our
infrastructure which took us 50 years to put together."
The United States, Director of National Intelligence Michael McConnel
also clearly indicated, “The IC (intelligence community) assesses that
Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Tayyaba (LeT) and other Kashmir-focused groups
will continue attack planning and execution in India. Shia and Hindu
religious observances are possible targets, as are transportation
networks and government buildings." This was also confirmed with reports
of terror groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed, Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HuM),
Harkat-ul-Jihad-Islami pooling resources and now guided by the Al Qaeda.
. India’s National Security Advisor indicated this trend at the Munich
security conference thus, “Al Qaeda’s elite terrorist network such as
the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan and Islamic Jehad Group (in Central
Asia), the Lashkar-e-Toiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and
Harkat-ul-Jehadi Islami and the Taliban (in South Asia), the Jemiah
Islamiah and the Abu Sayyaf Group in South East and East Asia represents
an intricate web of terrorist networks. They have forged common funding
structures, common training curricula and have a common resource for
obtaining explosives and weapons”
The Indian policy establishment has thus to be cautious rather than
having false hopes of immediate clamp down on militancy by the new
government in Pakistan, even if it is led by the PPP. A popular
government in Islamabad may not find it easy to enforce effective
counter terror measures at the very outset as normally political parties
tend to follow a more populist agenda to overcome the incumbency factor
of the previous regime.
The snowy slopes of Gulmarg this month were once again festooned with
gaiety and colour as the 5th Indian Winter Games were held 8700 ft above
sea level. This is just the second time after militancy in the Valley
since 1989 that the Games are being held. Eighteen teams from Jammu and
Kashmir the host state, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, New Delhi,
Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh and Punjab
with 500 participants make these the largest Games so far. Hopefully
this idyllic winter and the elections in Nagaland would represent a new
dawn for the people of these states.
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