India’s Kashmir move, Raises Terrorism Concern

Occupied Kashmir is currently under a tight security blanket with more than 50,000 additional troops are stationed in Kashmir. There was intense build-up, security forces moved in and tourists evacuated.

This is an assault on the Constitution, on the inclusive idea of India, on the spirit of cooperative federalism, democratic practices, and on the individual liberties of citizens from the state of Kashmir. Therefore, it is an attack on democratic values.

By abolishing parts of Article 370 the Indian government has changed the basic constitutional relation of the people of occupied Kashmir to the Republic of India without consulting them or their elected representatives. This is a breathtaking betrayal of democracy and nothing short of legislative authoritarianism.

The change behavior of Pakistan in recent times after Pakistan PM Mr. Imran Khan visited the USA and the indication from the US Trump Administration that it would be withdrawing from Afghanistan very soon and giving Pakistan more room to play in the region. Last time, Kashmir issue more blew up in a big way in the 90s when Afghanistan was evacuated by USSR. So, the stage was set by India for sudden drama. The seventy years old Historic provision in constitutions which was added after Maharaja Hari Singh the Instrument of Accession on 26 October 1947 was scrapped in just fifteen seconds by Indian Parliament. Now, all Indians laws will be applicable in Kashmir and the special status of Kashmir is abolished in Constitution.

The fallout of the Indian government's massive step on occupied Kashmir could be a spike in terrorism. The end to special status and a corresponding bifurcation could drive more occupied Kashmiri youths to terrorism, during the debate in the Lok Sabha over the Kashmir Reorganisation Bill. Many congressmen had shown strong reservations.

"You may be driving more Kashmiri youth to join terrorism," and it might even boost the terrorism and, especially with the US leaving Afghanistan.

Kashmir is currently under a tight security blanket, with more than 50,000 additional troops stationed there. The government has also unplugged parts of Kashmir from internet and phone services. All public meetings and rallies have also been banned.

Since the Modi government's announcement, Congress has been pointing to its consequences. The party's senior leader from Kashmir, Ghulam Nabi Azad said the BJP, which "came to power lately", has not considered the strategic aspect of its decision.

"India has a long border with China, they have a border with Pakistan and with Pakistan Azad Kashmir," In a border state, one cannot stop the freedom Movement just with the help of the armed forces, India needs the cooperation of the people too in 1947.

We all remember the last time the Prime Minister Mr. Modi unleashed a decision to the nation which was also initially applauded for his decisiveness, just like today... that was the disaster of demonetization. India is still dealing with the devastating consequences of that action and it will further damage the image of India as the biggest parliamentary democracy in the world.

Many voices are raising against this decision inside India, for instance, the Congress, though, has seen a division in its ranks over the Kashmir decision, with many leader siding with the government. While its chief whip in Lok Sabha, Bhubaneswar Kalita, quit yesterday in protest against the party's stance, its senior leader Janardhan Dwivedi said the government has remedied a "historic blunder".

Congress leader Mr. Rahul Gandhi has slammed the Modi government for arresting the political leaders and former chief ministers of occupied Kashmir.

Gandhi said in a tweet that it is both "short-sighted and foolish" of the government to arrest political leaders in occupied Kashmir as the leadership vacuum will encourage terrorists to fill up space in the troubled state that has just been served a jolt.

The aftermath of Article 370, Pakistan has taken this matter to the international level which is a very good step by Mr. Imran Khan Govt. On August 4, OIC in a tweet said, "The OIC reiterates its call upon the international community to rise up to its responsibility for the peaceful resolution of Kashmir dispute through the democratic method of a free and impartial plebiscite in accordance with relevant UN Security Council resolutions."

Besides this, OIC also issued a statement saying it "strongly condemns" the recent developments in Kashmir, including the detention of Kashmiri leaders including former chief ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti.

Meanwhile, Pakistan has also written a letter to the Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) about the developments in Jammu and Kashmir. In a tweet, the government of Pakistan said, "Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has written a letter to the Secretary-General of the United Nations and apprised him about the critical situation."

Following the tense situation in India and Pakistan, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged all parties to exercise restraint, his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said, "We are following with concern the tense situation in the region... We urge all parties to exercise restraint," Dujarric said at the daily press briefing while adding that the UN was aware of reports of restrictions in Kashmir in India.

On whether the UN chief intends to play a role in resolving the Kashmir issue, Dujarric said, "We are very concerned about the rise in tensions. As for the Secretary General's role, he has often expressed his position on that and his position remains the same," a reference to the UN chief's position that his offices are always available should "both sides" ask for it.

The US, meanwhile, said it was "closely" observing the events in Kashmir following the revocation of Article 370 and urged all stakeholders to maintain peace and stability along the Line of Control (LoC).

Today, India has control over about 45% of the region, while Pakistan controls around 35%. But the remaining 20% is actually under the control of China.

Beijing is opposed to New Delhi's Kashmir move, especially its decision to carve the Ladakh region out of Kashmir state and administer it federally. The Chinese government spokesperson called the move "unacceptable" and said that it would help Pakistan in defending "its legitimate rights and interests" in the Kashmir region.

Pakistan’s prime minister, Imran Khan, has threatened to “teach Delhi a lesson” and vowed to fight until the end against any Indian violations in disputed Kashmir.

In some of his strongest words since Delhi revoked Indian-administered Kashmir’s special status last week, Khan said the army was preparing to respond to anticipated Indian aggression in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

“The Pakistani army has solid information that they [India] are planning to do something in Pakistani Kashmir, and they are ready and will give a solid response,” Khan said. “We have decided that if India commits any type of violation we will fight until the end,” Khan said during a visit to Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, in a speech marking Pakistan’s Independence Day.“The time has arrived to teach you a lesson,” he said.

Pakistan, which also claims Kashmir and has fought wars with India over the region, responded furiously to Delhi’s decision last week to revoke Indian-administered Kashmir’s special status. It compared the Indian government to Nazis and suggested they might carry out ethnic cleansing.

Legally, morally, politically, and ethically, by abolishing parts of Article 370 the Indian government has changed the basic constitutional relation of the people of occupied Kashmir to the Republic of India without consulting them or their elected representatives. This is a breathtaking betrayal of democracy and nothing short of legislative authoritarianism.

What will happen if this matter is challenged in the Supreme Court of India? Legally, it is very indefensible and it will be challenged. There three spirals of this matter like legal, political and practical or social. In India, the president's rule is the suspension of state government and imposition of direct central government rule in a state. Under Article 356 of the Constitution of India, in the event that a state government is unable to function according to constitutional provisions, the Central government can take direct control of the state machinery. But, here it is applied by Indian parliament as might is right because this 370 Abolishment is not approved by Kashmir constituent Assembly. There is a chance of a new spiral of violence and separatism. It can take Kashmir to more violence then it will be like the genie is out of the bottle which India might find it difficult to bring it back to the bottle.