These days there is a common refrain from several politicians as well as from some people in authority that there has been a change in the ground situation in Kashmir. Most of them imply that the change has been for the better. However, none of them mentions for whom has the change been for the better? The Indian Government or the Kashmiri people? If one analyses the situation carefully, both seem to have been losers! From the Indian side, the alienation has reached an extreme. This is especially true in regard to security forces. The news papers daily carry numerous stories about excesses by uniformed soldiers and the resultant protests all over the valley as well as in the Muslim majority areas of Jammu. Popular resistance to these excesses which had been somewhat muted earlier, is now growing louder and bolder. In the recent episode in Bandipore two soldiers in civil dress were caught by the public trying to rape a 17 year old girl and were paraded naked for a distance of few kilometres. It was the first instance of such public fury in recent years. The same day, soldiers in Madhvan, Hajan beat up the villagers for damaging a hoarding about Sadhbhavana. In Jammu, 17 villagers were beaten to pulp in Gool area of Udhampur. Apart from these excesses and resultant protests, news papers every day carry stories about encounters involving militants and security forces. In addition, there are reports about IED blasts and grenade explosions mostly resulting in civilian casualties. Earlier in the year during the exhumation of the bodies of victims of fake encounters, there were massive public protests. This shows that there is a simmering discontent against the Indian rule which finds frequent outlet through these incidents. One of the vivid examples of this behaviour was the universal outcry against the renovation of Muslim shrines in the valley by the army. They had to abruptly shelve the whole project. Another manifestation of this phenomenon has been the growing demand among the students of Kashmir University for expressing their views on the political situation in Kashmir. They have revived the Student Union and are holding seminars on political topics which were taboo sometime back. Physically India may have a complete strangle hold on the valley but psychologically they seem to be losing the battle for the minds and hearts of Kashmiris. It is difficult to understand whether this is happening because of the Indian Government losing control over its various security agencies in the valley or they have given up the idea of retrieving Kashmir emotionally and would like to keep it as long as they can through shear force? Recently a national level Muslim leader of India stated that there is a vested interest lobby in the security forces who do not want to lose the benefits and perks enjoyed by them because of the turmoil with the help of the draconian legislations. There is a continuous dual going on between various mainstream parties on the subject. Some would like to retrieve the situation for India through some populist measures like demilitarisation, self-rule or autonomy, and restoration of human rights. Others insist on use of force to bring back the elusive normalcy regardless of the cost in human as well as material terms. The contradictory pronouncements, ad hoc actions, and a worst confusion about the ultimate aims clearly demonstrate that the changing situation no way favours the Government of India. It is rather going from bad to worse for them. Some people holding extreme views even claim that it is the beginning of the end for the Indian rule in Kashmir. However, the most pathetic aspect of the whole episode is the attitude of the people at the helm both in the State as well as in Delhi. While the people are facing the worst time of their lives due to anti-militancy operations of the security forces, the rulers are listening to Sufiana Music. One is reminded of the Roman times. It is said that when Rome was burning Nero was fiddling with his guitar. Similarly, when the faith of millions has been shaken by the untimely disappearance of ice lingam in the holy Amarnath cave due the bungling of its guardians, they are enjoying Sufiana music played by Pakistani and Egyptian artists! One fails to understand the link between Shiva and Sufiana music. This too must be the part of the changing ground situation in Kashmir!

As regards Kashmiris themselves, the situation has never been so bad during last half century or so. There has been no end to extra judicial killings. Kashmiris’ very basic right to life has been taken away by the (still in force) legislation (Armed Forces Special Powers Act) empowering security forces to kill at will any Kashmiri and destroy his property without any fear of judicial accountability on the mere suspicion of his being a militant. Apart from the fact of the very basic life of a Kashmiri being under a grave threat, the quality of whatever is left of his life is miserably poor. Nothing seems to be in order. Be it the basic health care, the infrastructure like roads, water supply and power, the educational system, and the enforcement of normal law and order. The situation of uncertainty has been eating into the vitals of Kashmir society. Kashmir’s once famous environment which had prompted people to claim it to be a “Paradise on Earth” is in dire straits. The Dal Lake is in the throes of death. Lush green forests are being mowed down like wild grass. The most important urban centre of the State, the city of Srinagar has become probably the dirtiest city in the world swamped by hordes of beggars from all over India. The people responsible do not seem to even notice these happenings. We seem to be living in a Zombie Land. People move about like robots, totally expressionless. In keeping with the Indian proverb, every one is trying to wash his hands in the flowing Ganges. (Making hay while sun shines) Only the Ganges has become very filthy and dirty! There is no accountability at all. One cannot believe the assertion that the people at helm in Delhi are not aware of the fast deteriorating situation. There are over a dozen agencies conveying minute to minute happenings in all parts of the state to the rulers in Delhi. In the past there used to be an advocate of Kashmiris across the line who would raise a hue and cry on every happening here which would make Delhi somewhat uncomfortable and they would try to alleviate the sufferings of the people. With that advocate having abdicated its role in so far as it concerns the basic rights of Kashmiris, Delhi has a free hand to settle all scores and humiliate Kashmiris to the maximum possible extent. They are playing games with the popular leadership in Kashmir. They don’t even give a damn about their own so called mainstream leadership which has been crying itself hoarse about the fast developing explosive situation due to the excesses of the security forces. CBMs (Confidence Building Measures) have totally lost any appeal because of the cumbersome procedures. Cross border travel is a mere trickle. There may be more people crossing without any permission and with weapons than those who cross through buses after waiting for months or even years. The “Track-II” diplomacy seems to have lost the track and its promoters appear to be bogged down within their own respective bureaucracies perennially suspicious of each other. A journalist had recently stated that the situation in Kashmir is going to tip over soon. Unfortunately, it has already tipped over! It is now only a matter of time before it actually explodes. The explosion this time would be horrendous as the people have already seen the worst of everything.