This article is about the insurgency in the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir. For the wider conflict between India and Pakistan over Kashmir, see
Kashmir Conflict.
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The
insurgency in Kashmir has existed in various forms. Thousands of lives have been lost since 1989 due to the intensification of both the insurgency and its repression.
A widespread armed insurgency started in Kashmir with the disputed 1987 election with some elements from the State's assembly forming militant wings which acted as a catalyst for the emergence of armed insurgency in the region.
[10][11]
The
Inter-Services Intelligence of
Pakistan has been accused by
India of supporting and training
mujahideen.
[12][13] to fight in
Jammu and Kashmir.
[14][15] According to official figures released in Jammu and Kashmir assembly (Indian controlled), there were 3,400
disappearance cases and the conflict has left more than 47,000 people dead as of July 2009. However, the number of insurgency-related deaths in the state have fallen sharply since the start of a slow-moving peace process between India and Pakistan.
[16]
History of the Insurgency
1947-1987
After independence from colonial rule India and Pakistan
fought a war over the princely state of
Kashmir. At the end of the war India controlled the most valuable parts of Kashmir.
[17] While there were sporadic periods of violence there was no organized insurgency movement.
[18]
During this period legislative elections in
Jammu and Kashmir were first held in 1951 and
Sheikh Abdullah’s party stood unopposed. However
Sheikh Abdullah would fall in and out of favour with the central government and would often be dismissed only to be re-appointed later on. This was a time of political instability in
Jammu and Kashmir and it went through several periods of
President's rule by the
Federal Government.
[19]
1987-2004
After
Sheikh Abdullah’s death, his son
Farooq Abdullah took over as
Chief Minister of
Jammu and Kashmir.
Farooq Abdullah eventually fell out of favour with the
Central Government and the
Prime Minister of India,
Indira Gandhi had him dismissed. A year later
Farooq Abdullah announced an alliance with the ruling
Congress party for the elections of 1987.
[19] The elections were allegedly rigged in favour of
Farooq Abdullah.
[19][20]
This led to the rise of an armed insurgency movement composed, in part, of those who unfairly lost elections.
[21] Pakistan supplied these groups with logistical support, arms, recuits and training.
[19][20][21][22][23]
2004-Present
Beginning in 2004 Pakistan began to end its support for insurgents in Kashmir. This happened because terrorist groups linked to Kashmir twice tried to assassinate
Pakistani President General
Pervez Musharraf.
[23] His successor,
Asif Ali Zardari has continued the policy, calling insurgents in Kashmir “terrorists”.
[24] Although it is unclear if Pakistan’s intelligence agency, the
Inter-Services Intelligence, thought to be the agency aiding and controlling the insurgency
[24][25][26] is following Pakistan’s commitment to end support for the insurgency in Kashmir.
[24]
Despite the change in the nature of the insurgency from a phenomenon supported by external forces to a primarily domestic driven movement
[17][24][27][28][29] the Indian government has continued to send large numbers of troops to the Indian border and to crackdown on civil liberties.
[30][27][29]
There have been widespread protests against Indian rule.
[27]
Reasons for the Insurgency
Humanitarian Abuses
Some analysts have suggested that the number of Indian troops in Jammu and Kashmir is close to 600,000 although estimates vary and the Indian government refuses to release official figures.
[31] These troops have engaged in widespread humanitarian abuses
[29] and have engaged in extra-judicial killings,
[30] often for entertainment.
[32] This has led to support for the insurgency. However in October 2010,
Army Chief Gen VK Singh stated in an interview that over
95% of the allegations of human rights violations proved to be false and had apparently been levelled with the "ulterior motive of maligning the armed forces".
[33] Giving details, he said 988 allegations against the Army personnel in Jammu and Kashmir were received since 1994. Out of these 965 cases were investigated and 940 were found false, accounting for 95.2 percent.
[34]
Military forces in Jammu and Kashmir operate under emergency powers granted to them by the central government. These powers allow the military to curtail civil liberties, creating further support for the insurgency.
[35]
The insurgents have also abused human rights, engaging in what some have called an
ethnic cleansing.
[36] The government’s inability to protect the people from both its own troops and the insurgency has further eroded support for the government.
[37]
ISI’s Role
The Pakistani
Inter-Services Intelligence has encouraged and aided the insurgency.
[24][25][26][38] It has done so because it disputes the legitimacy of Indian rule in Kashmir, sees the insurgency as an easy way to keep Indian troops distracted and cause international condemnation of India.
[17]
Political Rights
The Indian government has shown a lack of respect for Kashmiri political rights. The formal insurgency was sparked by the rigging of state elections in 1987.
[19][20] This has contributed to anti-government sentiment.
A government report found that almost half of all Kashmiri
Panchayat Raj positions were vacant and suggested that the reason for this was the destabilizing effect of the conflict. The Panchayat Raj is a system of elected village level governance created by the 73rd amendment to the Indian constitution. The report also noted that their ability to effectively govern was ‘crippled.’
[39]
There have been some signs in recent times that the Indian government has begun to take Kashmiri political views more seriously, especially those expressed through elections. During the
Jammu and Kashmir state assembly elections, 2008 the national ruling party chose to form a coalition with the party that won the most votes in order to “honour the mandate” of the election even though it was contrary to their immediate interests.
[40]
Mujahideen Influence
After the
invasion of Afghanistan by the Soviet Union,
Mujahideen fighters, with the aid of Pakistan, slowly infiltrated Kashmir with the goal of spreading a radical Islamist ideology.
[20]
Religion
Jammu and Kashmir is the only Muslim majority state in Hindu-majority India. While India itself is a secular state, Muslims are politically, culturally and economically marginalized when compared to Hindus in India as a whole.
[41] This has led to the belief that Muslims do not belong in India and has alienated the Kashmiri people.
[20] The Government’s
decision to transfer 99 acres of forest land to a Hindu organization solidified this feeling and led to one of the largest protest rallies in Jammu and Kashmir.
[42]
Other Reasons
The Indian National Census shows that Kashmir lags behind other states in most socio-development indicators such as literacy rates and has unusually high levels of unemployment. This contributes to anti-government sentiment.
[43]
Tactics
India
Over time the Indian government has increasingly relied on military presence and a curtailment of civil liberties to achieve its aims in Kashmir.
[29] The military has committed massive human rights violations.
[32]
For most of the history of the insurgency the government paid little attention to the political views of the Kashmiri people. The government would often dissolve assemblies, arrest elected politicians and impose President’s rule. The government also rigged elections in 1987.
[19] In recent times there have been signs that the government is taking local elections more seriously.
[40]
The government has also funnelled development aid to Kashmir and Kashmir has now become the biggest per capita receiver of Federal aid.
[44]
Pakistan
The Pakistani central government originally supported, trained and armed the insurgency in Kashmir, however after groups linked to the Kashmiri insurgency twice attempted to assassinate President Pervez Musharraf, Musharraf decided to end support for such groups.
[23] His successor,
Asif Ali Zardari has continued the policy, calling insurgents in Kashmir “terrorists”.
[24]
It is unclear if The Pakistani
Inter-Services Intelligence has followed the lead of the government and ended its support for insurgent groups in Kashmir
[24][25][26] although Pakistani support for the insurgency has certainly waned.
[29]
Insurgents
Since around 2000 the ‘insurgency’ has become far less violent and has instead taken on the form of protests and marches.
[42] Certain groups have also chosen to lay down their arms and look for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
[45]
Groups
The different insurgent groups have different aims in Kashmir. Some want complete independence from both India and Pakistan, others want unification with Pakistan and still others just want greater autonomy from the Indian government.
[46]
A 2010 survey found that 43% in J&K would favour independence, with support for the independence movement unevenly distributed across the region.
[47]
Identity
Over the last two years, the militant group,
Lashkar-e-Toiba has split into two factions:
Al Mansurin and
Al Nasirin. Another new group reported to have emerged is the
Save Kashmir Movement.
Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (formerly known as
Harkat-ul-Ansar) and
Lashkar-e-Toiba are believed to be operating from
Muzaffarabad,
Azad Kashmir and
Muridke,
Pakistan respectively.
[citation needed]
Other less well known groups are the Freedom Force and Farzandan-e-Milat. A smaller group,
Al-Badr, has been active in Kashmir for many years and is still believed to be functioning.
All Parties Hurriyat Conference, an organization that uses moderate means to press for the rights of the Kashmiris, is often considered as the
mediator between
New Delhi and insurgent groups.
[citation needed]
Al-Qaeda
It is unclear if
Al Qaeda has a presence in Jammu and Kashmir.
Donald Rumsfield suggested that they were active
[48] and in 2002 the
SAS hunted for
Osama bin Laden in Jammu and Kashmir.
[49] Al Qaeda claims that it has established a base in Jammu and Kashmir
[50]
However there has been no evidence for any of these assertions.
[48][49][50] The Indian army also claims that there is no evidence of Al Qaeda presence in Jammu and Kashmir.
[51]
Al Qaeda has established bases in Pakistani administered Kashmir and some, including
Robert Gates have suggested that they have helped to plan attacks in India.
[51][52][53]
See Also
Partition of India
Timeline of the Kashmir conflict
History of Jammu and Kashmir
Kashmir Conflict
Jammu and Kashmir
Kashmir
Indo-Pakistani wars and conflicts
References
- ^ [1], [2], [3] Multiple sources for the number of Indian counter-insurgency troops in the region
- ^ Reduction of India troops in Kashmir
- ^ 800 Militants Active in Kashmir: Army
- ^ a b "Facts on Kashmiri Terrorism". http://www.stephen-knapp.com/facts_on_the_pakistani_terrorism_against_kashmir.htm.
- ^ a b http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/srinagar/India-revises-Kashmir-death-toll-to-47-000/Article1-353212.aspx
- ^ "Kashmir Death Toll Hits 1,980 In 2003". The Washington Post. 21 November 2003. http://www.jammu-kashmir.com/archives/archives2003/kashmir20031121c.html.
- ^ "India revises Kashmir death toll to 47,000". Reuters. 21 November 2008. http://in.reuters.com/article/topNews/idINIndia-36624520081121.
- ^ "Kashmir fighting death toll hits 19 - CNN.com". CNN. 23 March 2009. http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/03/23/kashmir.fighting/index.html. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
- ^ "India revises Kashmir death toll to 47,000". Reuters (Hindustan Times). November 21, 2008]. http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=&id=7667cb02-681b-4e08-b3f8-765cf1d23170&Headline=India+revises+Kashmir+death+toll+to+47%2c000+.
- ^ "Kashmir insurgency" (in English). BBC (London: BBC). http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/in_depth/south_asia/2002/india_pakistan/timeline/1989.stm. Retrieved November 1, 2010.
- ^ Hussain, Altaf (14 September 2002). "Kashmir's flawed elections" (in English). BBC (London: BBC). http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/2223364.stm. Retrieved November 1, 2010.
- ^ Pakistan's shadowy secret service - BBC News
- ^ Nato's top brass accuse Pakistan over Taliban aid - Telegraph
- ^ At Border, Signs of Pakistani Role in Taliban Surge - New York Times
- ^ A NATION CHALLENGED: THE SUSPECTS; Death of Reporter Puts Focus On Pakistan Intelligence Unit - New York Times
- ^ Indian officials say 3,400 missing in held Kashmir (August 18, 2009; AFP)
- ^ a b c Bose, Sumantra.Kashmir: Roots of Conflict, Paths to Peace. Harvard, 2005.
- ^ Swami, Praveen.India, Pakistan and the Secret Jihad. 2006.
- ^ a b c d e f Altaf, Hussein.[4] “Kashmir’s Flawed Elections”
- ^ a b c d e BBC News.[5] “Kashmir Insurgency”
- ^ a b Jamar, Arif.The untold story of Jihad in Kashmir. 2009.
- ^ Hasan, Syed Shoaib.[6] “Why Pakistan is boosting Kashmir militants”
- ^ a b c Khan, Aamer Ahmed.[7] “Pakistan: Where have the militants gone?”
- ^ a b c d e f g Stephens, Bret.[8] “The most difficult job in the world”
- ^ a b c Cole, Juan.[9] “Does Obama understand his biggest foreign-policy challenge?”
- ^ a b c Rediff.[10] “Links between ISI, militant groups: Straw”
- ^ a b c The Economist. Stony Ground. July 2010.
- ^ The Economist. Your Place or Mine?. February 2004.
- ^ a b c d e The Economist. Grim Up North. June 2009.
- ^ a b BBC News.[11] “Kashmir's extra-judicial killings”
- ^ Nathan, Joanna.[12] “India’s leader makes peace overtures in Kashmir”
- ^ a b Human Rights Watch, Patricia Gossman. “India's secret army in Kashmir : new patterns of abuse emerge in the conflict “, 1996
- ^ "95% HR violation cases against Army in J&K false". zeenews. http://www.zeenews.com/news663426.html.
- ^ "95% HR violation cases against Army in J&K false". zeenews. http://www.zeenews.com/news663426.html.
- ^ Jim Yardley. India Reopens Kashmir’s Schools, but Many Stay Away . The New York Times, 27th September 2010.
- ^ Pallone, Frank.[13] “Resolution condemning Human Rights Violations against Kashmiri Pandits”
- ^ Human Rights Watch. Rights Abuses Behind Kashmir Fighting July 1999.
- ^ GlobalSecurity.org.[14] “Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence [ISI]”
- ^ Planning Commission of India Jammu & Kashmir Development Report 2003.
- ^ a b Ramaseshan, Radhika.[15] “Cong dilemma: young Omar or PDP” The Telegraph
- ^ Nomani, Asra Q.[16] “Muslims -- India's new 'untouchables'” Los Angeles Times
- ^ a b Thottam, Jyoti [17] “Valley of Tears” Time Magazine, September 2008
- ^ Government of India Indian National Census 2001 2001.
- ^ Sanghvi, Vir [18] “Think the unthinkable” Hindustan Times, August 2008
- ^ Gupta, Amit; Leather, Kaia.[19] “Kashmir: Recent Developments and US Concerns”, June 2002
- ^ BBC News [20] “The Future of Kashmir?”
- ^ Bradnock, Robert “Kashmir: Paths to Peace” Chatham House, London, 2008
- ^ a b Abbas, Zaffar.[21] “Analysis: Is al-Qaeda in Kashmir?”
- ^ a b Smith, Michael.[22] “SAS joins Kashmir hunt for bin Laden” The Telegraph 2002
- ^ a b International Herald Tribune.[23] “Al Qaeda Claim of Kashmiri Link Worries India”
- ^ a b The Hindu.[24] “No Al Qaeda presence in Kashmir: Army”
- ^ Dawn.[25] “Al Qaeda could provoke new India-Pakistan war: Gates”, January 2010
- ^ Smucker, Phillip.[26] “Al Qaeda thriving in Pakistani Kashmir”
