Indian Troops in IHK?
By the Editor

GOING by a significant departure from its past rhetoric, India has – of-late – said that the ‘infiltration’ level in Occupied Kashmir has come down to ‘zero’ level.

First of all Kashmiris have been waging struggling against Indian occupation of their state since 1947 with varying degrees of intensity.

Therefore, to dub their indigenous struggle for freedom as ‘infiltration’ from Pakistan is rather insulting for Kashmiris and an ill-founded accusation against Pakistan.

Addition of hundreds of graves every month throughout the occupied territory bears testimony to the supreme sacrifices being offered by Kashmiris for their inalienable right to self-determination.

Anyhow, as a top officer of Indian army in IHK – himself has alleged – that there is no more infiltration from across the Line of Control, the question arises what is the justification for maintaining such a large number of troops in Occupied Kashmir?

India has always ‘pleaded’ the deployment of these troops on the pretext of cross-LoC movement and on various occasions in the past authorities in New Delhi made commitments to withdraw troops once the so-called infiltration was eliminated.

It is, however, ironical that India is not ready to withdraw even a single soldier from Occupied Kashmir and instead wants to continue with its oppressive and suppressive policies in the forcibly held part of the Himalayan State of Jammu and Kashmir.

This should serve as an eye opener for all those in Pakistan and Jammu and Kashmir who were anticipating a cut in Indian troops’ presence in response to peace overtures by President Pervez Musharraf and reconciliatory approach by Kashmiri leaders.

It is now quite evident that Indians have no intention of doing so and they had been raising false hopes in a bid to gain time for things to subside.

We would, however, draw attention of the Indian leaders to what is happening in Iraq and Afghanistan where world’s strongest armies were finding it difficult to resist the popular liberation struggles.

Thus, it is the most appropriate time that India should learn the lesson and take advantage of the historic opportunity to resolve the longstanding dispute through peaceful means – in the quickest time.●