S Ranjan
The Kashmir valley has for long
been a victim of the global terrorism being perpetrated in the name of
religion. It is the only place in the world that witnessed proliferation of an
armed insurgency by international Islamic warriors alongside an extremist Islamic
resurrection in Afghanistan. Pakistan being at the centre of both movements was
naturally the architect of the violence in both regions, with Saudi Arabia
playing a significant role in financially supporting the same.
The tactics mastered by Pakistan
in Afghanistan were employed most effectively in Kashmir, with devastating
results. As a result, for over two decades, peace has generally eluded the
valley even though the situation is far better than what it was when the
insurgency was ignited. The last couple of years can be called years of
relative peace but definitely not perfect peace, especially in view of the new
violence and threats against elected Panchayat leaders, which has prompted many
to resign before the impending Panchayat elections.
A far deeper security threat is
also emerging in Kashmir. On June 25, the centuries-old shrine of a revered
Sufi saint, Dastageer Sahib, caught fire and was soon reduced to ashes. Early
investigations suggested that the cause of fire was a short circuit. But on
July 16, another Sufi shrine of Baba Haneefuddin, in Budgam, was gutted.
At this, a large number of
Kashmir-based newspapers and some Jammu-based dailies likeKashmir Times began
hinting at a conspiracy. “This appears a conspiracy. First it was Dastageer
Sahib shrine, and now within few days, the Budgam shrine is gutted
mysteriously. It cannot be a mishap,” said Zareef Ahmad Zareef, President,
Valley Citizen’s Council, as reported by Kashmir Times.
On what basis Zareef Ahmad made
this statement remains a mystery, but he made it and some newspapers thought
fit to report it. In the month of August, in a rare incident in the valley, a
youth was killed in a sectarian riot between Sufis and Salafis. The Valley has
been familiar with the killing of Kashmiri pundits and violence between Shia
and Sunni sects, but this was the first time violence occurred within the same
sect as Salafis and Sufis both follow the Sunni tradition of Islam.
All this points towards something
sinister simmering below the surface in Kashmir. It seems as though some people
are making a concerted effort to eliminate Sufi shrines and by so doing are
targeting the Sufi tradition which is at the core of Kashmiri culture.
Salafism is on the rampage
globally. In the last few months, Salafis have desecrated Sufi shrines in many
places across the world, from the Caucasus to Arab-Africa to Kashmir and
nations in between. Most notable is the desecration of Sufi shrines in
Timbuktu, capital of Mali, which is also famous for its Islamic institutions
and Sufi shrines. Some shrines figure on the World Heritage list.
Actually, support for violence in
Kashmir has declined and fresh recruits are not coming in sufficient numbers to
support the terrorist movement. This has led to a decline in the graph of
violence in Kashmir. Peace in the valley is testimony of many things; firstly,
it tells us that the efforts of the armed forces have paid dividends. Secondly,
a majority of people in the valley in last few years have not been supporting
Pakistan’s agenda, and finally less and less people look at the gun as an
answer to perceived or real issues. However, the moot point is that no
organised violence stops suddenly even though a decline in violence has happened.
The perpetrators of violence have
now changed tack to sow the seed of fundamental Islamism by promoting the
extreme cult of Salafism. This is because around a quarter of Kashmiri people
follow the Salafi-Sunni tradition and it is easy to find recruits from this
segment. The recruitment on religious grounds was next to zero a decade back,
now it is gaining momentum. Saudi money has come hand in hand with Salafi
ideology; money has given access to such mosques and madrasas where conversion
and indoctrination can be carried out.
Now, the latest tactic is to ride
the international Islamic revulsion for the “anti-Islam film” made in America.
Undoubtedly, people across the world have condemned the film, but why was the
reaction so violent in Kashmir that curfew needed to be imposed? The
separatists who knock at the doors of the United Nations for every conceivable
reason should have done so in this instance also. What can be achieved by
disrupting the lives of the poor people? This incident is being used to the
hilt to whip up passions.
These days, people not intimately
associated with developments in the valley have started taking peace for
granted. They are quite impressed with the rising levels of tourism and
economic activity which gives a general impression that the tide has turned.
But if one studies the reality
minutely one would realize that this is just a passing phase of relative peace.
The religious divide within the Muslim community itself is a new and menacing
entrant in the environment and has serious potential to shatter the hard-earned
peace.
It is time to identify the
changing societal norms and take immediate action to stop the spread of
disinformation and communal hatred designed specifically to further a few well
known inimical interests. It is also time to understand that the enemies of the
valley are planning something. They are working slowly and surely towards
another big game. In case the mischief is not nipped in the bud quickly, there
could be some serious security consequences.
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