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Incommunicado

Plunged into the darkness, the golden valley of India has no routes of communication with the rest of the world. J&K is experiencing the worst curfew of all times, as we celebrate the independence day. With leaders promising of the changes that the move will usher in, and opposition dazzled by the sudden turn of events, the common media has no means to breach the incommunicado. 
I feel I can bet with some certainty about how the world looks at the Kashmir issue. Much similar to how we see the Rohingya issue of Myanmar, or Palestine in Israel (I know I have just pulled in ears of FBI). But yes, Kashmir is the Achilles heel for India's global image. And probably the biggest burden of the Indian army. However, a mother cannot just cut-off a child just because, it is in trouble. Primarily because of two reasons; one that we have a responsibility to help people of the valley and second that if such fate draws upon another state of our country, we would do the same, help them recover from the crisis.

The history that clouds Kashmir's integration with India, stands to a larger extent invalid today, considering the developments in modern times. Not that, I don't respect the terms to which Kashmir was brought into the Indian mainland, but I humbly state that the last seven decades have seen lots of sacrifices from the army and ordinary citizens, that J&K can no longer comfortably enjoy a special article. The question that stays is that is a promise being broken, and my answer to that is yes. But in this, there is a much larger stake of Kashmir than of India.

Let's look at the issue a bit closer. Article 370 had made the lands of Kashmir inaccessible to the trade and commerce of India, the only possible central enforcement has been in the form of military control against insurgents. Let me here remind you of the numerous casualties of the army caused in the valley; most of such are inflicted by funded terrorist organisations. While the other part of the country talks of FDI and development, Kashmir stands witness to the almost year-long clash between army and insurgents. I refuse to believe this as a coincidence, I think the virtual cut-off of Kashmir from being a proper Indian state has in some regard hindered its progress and its high time this barrier is removed.

Secondly, the demographics of Kashmir over the years have seen a lot of changes, the oust of Kashmiri pandits, to the near segregation of Buddhists to the Ladakh valley. The northern state has somehow become tainted with communal colours, which help the insurgents to paint a gory image in the minds of the youth of the state.

Finally is the idea of an integrated nation; even when resources and duties of the Indian government remained the same towards J&K like any other state, it does enjoy a VIP treatment. To be fair most of India consisted of princely states, so if one state gets to enjoy the special rights why not others? Is it because of their kings avoided a drama? Why can't we undo the past and do what is politically and morally correct?



The latest move celebrates this idea. The land of Jammu and Kashmir has been brought into the direct central control and the long-standing wish of Ladakh to be separated from the state (since its culturally and demographically different from rest of the valley) has been fulfilled. So as of now, every Kashmiri is bestowed with the same rights and opportunities as any other Indian. The need for a special status being scrapped, in true sense the complete integration with India.
I won't paint a rosy picture of the valley, for I know they have been irked with the sudden loss of an imagined autonomy, put in surveillance by the govt. Even the opposition has pointed out the finger for the hastiness with which the move was brought to action. But I believe it was just strategic timing, with China busy in its own Hong-Kong issue and the US muddled with its trade wars, India has managed to do away with external interference to the scene. The only disturbing State remains Pakistan, which has itself divided the PoK into 3 regions and sold them out for money. I could go on on the hypothetical nature of Pak, and the hidden plans that might have been hurt.

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