Sequel to the recent protests in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) over the long-drawn-out bad governance system in the state, there emerged many conjectures and misperceptions about the people of Kashmir in social media. While some declared Kashmiris as traitors, others called them ungrateful, ungracious and disloyal to state of Pakistan. There is yet another class who labeled them as the Indian agents, foreign agents and so on. Indeed, all these speculations and misperceptions are absurd, hogwash and fallacious, based on little or no knowledge about the ground realities. Indeed, these protests were against Government of Prime Minister Ch. Anawarul Haq and his administrative decisions ever since he took over the rule in 2023. Besides, its roots go to the continual bad governance system, existent in the State of Azad Jammu and Kashmir for decades. In fact, it was a protest against the self-centered and rude ruling elites and inefficient bureaucracy of AJK who failed to address the basic issues of the people of the State while enjoying unprecedented perks and privileges from the tax-payer’s money.
In No Way, it was a protest against the state of Pakistan or against the security institutions of Pakistan. The people of entire Jammu and Kashmir love Pakistan, Pakistani people, its institutions and armed forces to whom they are part and parcel. Therefore, no one should misperceive the eternal and unwavering relationship between people of Kashmir and the State of Pakistan. The inefficient and fearful AJK Administration and a deceitful class in AJK havewrongly projected the protests as against the State of Pakistan. How can the people of Jammu and Kashmir protest against the State and its institution, once they declare both as their ultimate destination and protectors? The AJK Administration rather addressing the grievances and concerns of the people started a blame game, perhaps to save their skin or else to hide their corrupt practice.
The State of Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan have historical relationship, which dates back to centuries. This relationship have rooted in the joint history of these two areas over the years and later turned into a relationship of interdependency. Religion, common culture, joint races on both sides, migrations and inter-marriages further strengthened this bond between the people of two sides. Besides, these linkages, geography of the Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan are another compelling factor, which essentially unite these areas. Besides, the dietary requirements and linkages of the state with outside world are other factors, uniting both. All natural routes to various parts of the Jammu and Kashmir are from Pakistan. The only link, India exploited in 1947, through Gurdaspur (PathanKot) was an artificial link, which India manipulated through Radcliff Award, through an unjustified division of Punjab.
In line with Muslims of British India, who formed All India Muslim League in 1906, people of Jammu and Kashmir established their first political party; All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference in 1932, sequel to Killings of Kashmiris by Dogra Rulers in 1931. After passage of Pakistan Resolution on March 23, 1940, Kashmiris decided to become part of new Muslim state, Pakistan. Even before Pakistan formally becomes a reality, Kashmiris unanimously adopted a resolution, for the accession of the Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir with Pakistan on July 19, 1947. Then prominent Kashmir leaders; KhawajaGhulam-ud-Din Wani and Abdul Rahim Wani moved the resolution in the emergency session of the All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference held in Srinagar. Since Pakistan was to become a reality for the Muslim of South Asia on August 14, 1947, therefore, Kashmiri people were in hurry for these legal formalities of state’s accession with their dreamland. It is worth mentioning that, a Kashmiri poet and philosopher, AllamaDr Muhammad Iqbal, during his address in the All India Muslim League annual session at Allahabad, presented the idea of Pakistan, in 1930.
Kashmiris have voluntarily opted to be part of Pakistan in the first quarter of 20th century and continuing with their struggle to annex entire state of Jammu and Kashmir with Pakistan. They neither accepted Dogra Rule nor Indian rule in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) since October 1947. If the people of IIOJK have not reconciled with Indian rule and fighting against Indian occupation since last four decades, how can people of AJK can think of any option with India? This all is misperceived and against the ground realities. Pakistan is first and last option for the people of entire Jammu and Kashmir. Traditionally, Azad Jammu and Kashmir is the main recruiting area (Hub of Military Recruitment) for the recruitment of soldiers and officers in the Armed Forces of Pakistan. As a general survey, over 80% youth of AJK, desire to become part of Armed Forces of Pakistan, thus, their devotions with State and Military cannot be questioned.
Unfortunately, Indian Government and its media has fully utilized the opportunity and exploited the protests against Pakistan and Kashmiris. They tried to create a split between people of Kashmir and Pakistan and tried to mislead the world. The question is; has India been accepted by people of IIOJK despite seventy-six years of its illegal occupation. Over 900,000 Indian security forces have failed to overpower the will and determination of Kashmiris of IIOJK in last seven decades. Kashmiris on both sides of Ceasefire Line reject Indian narratives and its claims of taking AJK and GB by force. Can India repeat what it did on February 26, 2019, since it cannot forget Pakistani response of 27 February, 2019? For the people of Pakistan and Kashmir, let’s be united internally and don’t provide a chance to foes to mislead our masses and international community. — The writer is Professor of Politics and IR at International Islamic University, Islamabad.
Email: drmkedu@gmail.com
