Kashmir has a reason to hope as Obama is the man who made his people believe -
“Yes We Can”
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Post 9/11, every Muslim has been the victim of harassment and suspicion all around the globe. Either it is terrorism or radical thinking that the Muslim community is being accused of. I am not a fundamentalist and I know that is precisely what Islam is all about-universal brotherhood, tolerance and coexistence. If some obscurantist radicals are misinterpreting Islam by their un-Islamic acts that does not mean that every Muslim is a terrorist. Whatever is happening in the Muslim world should make us sit up and reflect. Globalization has brought new challenges, new concepts and altogether new managerial dimensions. we may not be able to compete in a world where survival of the fittest will be the maxim. The contours of our tomorrow’s dream State shall have to be redrawn and reshaped. It is possible only if the people so desire. Nobody can do it for them.
When the insurgency surfaced in Indian part of Kashmir, nobody could in his wildest dreams imagine that a Kashmiri could pick up a gun and declare to the whole world that he had lost patience and decided to resort to a violent option after having suffered the indignities and subjugation. I will not go in the genesis of the imbroglio, but one thing is clear, that 21 years of tumult has turned our lives into Hell and traumatized us all. It seems as if our spirits have been stretched too far and perhaps we have reached a breaking point. The disregard, apathy, and dispassion that has kept the solution of Kashmir in the cold storage continues to have serious repercussions on the everyday lives of an average citizen of the trouble torn state and as it prolongs so does the hope. Every family has been affected by the happenings in Kashmir. How long do we have to see more bloodshed, more lives being wasted and more graves being dug out?
After four months of total chaos in Kashmir, the people are hoping that the Obama team will be able to understand the problem of the Kashmiris. You’ll find a cross section of people and even from different political shades keeping their fingers crossed. Leaders from the separatist camp and also the mainstream feel that something might come up with regard to Kashmir. It looks like a majority of Indians want something to be done with Kashmir, they would never want their taxes to be wasted this way. While the peaceful Indian also want a settlement once and for all the radicals are working overtime to downplay the uprising someway or the other. I am sure all the experts will be glued to the idiot box for these few days looking for a statement by Obama team on Kashmir.
In Kashmir, there is a high degree of expectation that an out of box solution is carved out during the visit of President Barrak Obama to India. Too many lives have been lost. Its evident that after fifty two years down the road, there has been nothing concrete except for talks and more talks. Allegations and counter allegations , secret formulas and back track diplomacy. Poor Kashmiris are still waiting with a bated breath what the outcome of these talks are. It was never specified then and it has not been specified now and looks quite evident that unless America doesn’t intervene India and Pakistan alone cannot solve this vexed issue. I’m sure US has its own economic reasons to be friendly with India but it also has an inherent obligation to see that this region is peaceful . They have to address the youth , the younger generation and let them know that they have to compete with the rest of the world in terms of progress and development. Its time to give them the slogan of “Yes We Can”. The Obama team should understand that supporting or encouraging bilateral talks will not work anymore, they have to intervene before its too late . America has to understand that there are hawks on both sides of India and Pakistan who have developed an inherent interest in Kashmir. There is the lure of power, there are kickbacks in defense deals, there are millions to be made if the present uncertainty prevails.
Sanity demands that we turn a new leaf in the region of peace and progress. President Obama’s historic visit has provided this region an opportunity when they can and they should leave behind their past and foster a relationship that improves the quality of life of nearly one and a half billion people of the region.
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