Kashmir’s relationship with Delhi as well as Islamabad has seen many ups and downs during last half century. However, at the present moment the alienation with both is the worst in the entire history of this relationship. This is because of the repeated blunders committed both by Delhi as well as Islamabad in handling Kashmir from time to time. They have been trying to manage the problem rather than solve it. The greatest blunder is that the rulers in the two countries have been listening only to the advice provided by their intelligence agencies and have acted upon it from time to time with disastrous results. They have not bothered to take inputs from political leaders, intellectuals and representatives from the cross section of society.

Let us first take Delhi’s blunders. The first blunder was the advice to Maharaja Hari Singh to change his Prime Minister, Ram Chand Kak, who had been personally inclined towards total independence of Kashmir. In fact, Maharaja Hari Singh himself was undecided about the best choice before him. He knew that even though he was a Hindu ruler yet he had Muslim majority population for whom he had great love and sympathy. It was the Maharaja who had enacted the State Subject Law in 1927 to protect the poor Kashmiris from exploitation by outsiders. In order to take a well thought out decision about the ultimate fate of his State at the time of partition, he had offered signing of a stand still agreement with both countries. Pakistan had immediately signed it but Delhi had asked more time to consider it. The second blunder was to force Maharaja’s hand in regard to state’s accession. At the time of Tribal invasion, which had followed the revolt by Maharaja’s troops in Poonch, led by Sardar Ibrahim, the Maharaja had asked Delhi for assistance to save his state. However, Lord Mountbatten had replied that the state had to first accede to India before any assistance could be given. Why? Could the assistance not have been given without pressurising Maharaja to accede to India? If Delhi had not forced the accession, the Maharaja might have reached an agreement with his subjects and continued to rule as a titular head with a popular democratic government and Pakistan would have been the real aggressor.

Once the invasion had been halted and a cease-fire enforced, Sheikh Abdullah who headed the local Government, tried his best to convince people that a semi-independent Kashmir was the best choice for them. He was not allowed to do so. Circumstances were created to turn him against India. B.N.Mullick, the former Director of Intelligence Bureau mentions in his memoirs that it took him two years to convince Nehru that to achieve Kashmir’s total integration with India, Sheikh Abdullah had to be removed from the scene. An agitation in Jammu was engineered through Parija Parishad under the banner of “Ek Nishan, Ek Vidhan, Ek Pradhan”. Sheikh Abdullah tried to suppress this agitation with a strong hand. Entire Indian press was against him and there was uproar in the whole country. Sheikh Abdullah suddenly realised that for more than six years he had suppressed all pro pak sentiment in the valley through ruthless and draconian measures but there was hardly a whisper in the Indian press! This convinced him that India was not a truly secular state as claimed by Gandhi and Nehru and he had made a mistake. He made a hard-hitting speech against India at Ranbir Singh Pora in Jammu stating that Kashmiris had yet to decide their future and the accession was temporary. Taking this and his meetings with Adlai Stevenson as the excuse, Delhi removed him from the “Scene”.

Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad, who was installed as Prime Minister, tried both the carrot and the stick to bring Kashmiris around to Indian position but failed. This was demonstrated by the Holy Relic upheaval in December 1963, which removed the entire Bakshi clan from the “Scene”. Nehru realised the mistake of having removed his friend from the scene and tried to make amends for it. Sheikh Abdullah was released from prison and sent to Pakistan (on a passport issued with the declaration that he was a Kashmiri Muslim instead of Indian Citizen) to meet Ayub Khan to work out a solution for Kashmir. As soon as Sheikh Abdullah after meeting Ayub Khan, announced in Pakistan that he had succeeded in his mission, Nehru mysteriously died a sudden death. Sheikh Abdullah took a whirlwind tour of some foreign countries and met Chou En Lai in Algiers. Delhi was infuriated at this indulgence. His passport was cancelled. He rushed back and was arrested on arrival in Delhi. He was kept in exile at the South Indian health resort of Kodiakanal in Tamil Nadu. Then came the August 1965 infiltration and subsequent war. This time Pakistan had sent disciplined regulars of 16 AK Force in civilian clothes. They tried to make it up as a local uprising but failed due to the reluctance of local political leaders. They had also under-estimated India’s response and had probably assessed that the conflict would remain confined to Kashmir but India went all out for it and crossed the International border in Lahore. Security Council brokered a cease-fire and Russia arranged talks between two sides in Tashkent. Immediately after signing a historic agreement, Lal Bahadur Shastri very mysteriously died in Tashkent itself. G.M.Sadiq who had taken over as the Chief minister, tried to give a clean and efficient governance to Kashmir but his failing health prevented him from achieving this goal and he died during the 1971 war. This war resulted in the dismemberment of Pakistan and creation of Bangladesh. The result of this war probably convinced Sheikh Abdullah that Pakistan was not in a position to liberate Kashmir. He was also fatigued by a long struggle and was persuaded by Indra Gandhi to come back to the Indian mainstream with a promise of restoration of full autonomy, which had been guaranteed under Article 370 and the Delhi agreement. He took over the Government of Kashmir in 1975.

Again Delhi committed yet one more blunder. Instead of helping Sheikh Abdullah to bring round people to his concept of “Azadi”, they put him on pin pricks and he died a sad person regretting that he had put his people in a total mess from which they seemed to have no escape! Before his death, as a last resort to leave some opening for Kashmiris, he enacted the Resettlement Act, which would enable Kashmiris who had migrated to Pakistan and other places to return to Kashmir and claim their citizenship. His funeral had record crowds from all over the State. More than a million people. It was a pathetic scene. Some people remarked that his last journey was not performed in correct Islamic manner. He was kept with open face and his feet were towards the grave, which amounts to a dead person being dragged to his grave! Carrying of his coffin from the gun carriage to the burial spot by the uniformed soldiers for lowering of his body by the close relations into the grave created a commotion at the funeral. It was a tragic scene that the army, which he had helped to take over Kashmir and subsequently, wanted withdrawn, put him to his final resting place.

Farooq Abdullah rose from his father’s funeral. People had thought that the son might do something to lessen the burden his father had taken to his grave. But alas Delhi did not give him any chance to do that and pulled the rug from under his feet. He was ultimately forced into a marriage of his nationalist party with the ruling party at Delhi. The greatest blunder ever committed was the rigging of 1987 elections. Surrender by the Kashmir’s nationalist party, National Conference before Delhi left a vacuum, which was filled by the conglomeration of religious and separatist parties under the banner of Muslim United Front, popularly known as MUF. They had decided to project their case in the State Assembly by participating in the democratic process. To achieve this objective, they took part whole-heartedly in the 1987 elections. They may have captured a sizeable number of seats and would have found a strong voice in the State Assembly. Unfortunately as usual Delhi got panicky and the elections were rigged. The winning candidate of MUF from Amira Kadal, Mohammad Yusuf was arrested and beaten. His rival Mohiuddin Shah of National Conference was declared elected even though he had lost the election. Mohammad Yusuf now is the Chief of the largest militant out fit Hizbul Mujahideen under the name of Salahuddin! After having failed to win their battle through the ballot, the Kashmiri nationalists took to the bullet resulting in the now famous 1990 uprising. All the young men who had been polling agents and candidates of MUF became militant leaders.

One of the many blunders committed by Delhi till 1990 was that most of the central services and organisations including intelligence agencies had more than 88% recruitment from Kashmiri Hindus (Pandits). Muslims were never trusted. In 1990, Delhi fell in the Pakistani trap of liquidating Indian intelligence sources in Kashmir and the Governor Jagmohan facilitated the departure of Pandits, who had acted as eyes and ears of Indian intelligence. He probably thought that the nationalist uprising can be given a fundamentalist colour and field would be left open for eliminating Muslim rebels en masse. He did succeed to some extent but his success suited Pakistan on one hand and on the other totally alienated the Kashmiri Muslims.

After 1996, Gary Saxena was able to rebuild the intelligence apparatus. A large number of militants were turned around and made to surrender. The Army called these “friendlies”. However, instead of using these to protect and safeguard people by being their saviours, they were turned into their tormentors. They committed all sorts of excesses on the people and got shelter with the Army. State Police also set up a Special Task Force (STF), mostly of non-Kashmiris to tackle militants. This force too became a very infamous organisation dreaded by the people. Gary Saxena towards the end of his tenure had also realised that the Kashmir Issue was not to be managed but solved. He gave many statements to this effect. Even the Army Chief General Vaidya stated that the Army had done its job in controlling militancy and it was now for Politicians to solve the “Problem”. It has been observed that all the Delhi’s men who deal with Kashmir ultimately realise that Kashmir needs solution and not management!

After almost virtually losing Kashmir, Delhi was successful in re-installing Farooq Abdullah as the Chief Minister on the premise of a tall promise of return to 1953 position of autonomy. However, as usual he was kept on a tight leash and the Union Cabinet rejected his Resolution on autonomy even without any discussion on it. PDP came to power on the promise of providing a “healing touch” to the tormented masses. They promised to abolish STF, send forces back to barracks, end custodial killings and so on. Delhi never allowed fulfilling of these promises. This ensured the maintenance of the alienation level as high as it was at the peak of militancy.

Delhi’s attitude has always been totally colonial. Keep Kashmir with a strong hand no matter what it costs to do so. They swear to fight Pakistan to the last Kashmiri! “Kashmir is and will remain an integral part of India regardless of what happens to Kashmiris”. However, it is the people who matter and not the land. Instead of reposing total trust in Kashmiris, they continue to rely on Intelligence agencies and the military might. British had to leave India after 200 years. The Empire, on which Sun never used to set, shrunk back to the British Isles. Hitler even after killing six million Jews could not exterminate them. Violence begets violence. It is a vicious circle.

Let us now analyse the blunders committed by Islamabad. The first blunder was to consider Kashmir a bearer cheque because of its Muslim majority. Those who thought like that were probably unaware of Kashmir’s long history of suppression at the hands of foreigners. Kashmiris had suffered both at the hands of Muslims as well as Non-Muslims. By nature Kashmiri is neither communal nor fundamentalist. He is neither a staunch and fanatic Muslim nor is he a rabid Hindu. He is a pure and simple Kashmiri wherever he may be. This is because of the smooth transition of various religions in Kashmir. Hinduism to Buddhism, then return to Hinduism and finally to Islam. None of the changes were violent. These were due to the strength of character of the preachers. Again Kashmiris suffered under the Mughals, then under the Afghans, then the worst period was under the Sikhs and finally under the Dogras. During the last period under Dogras, Kashmiris who were very poor and wretched were looked down upon by the Punjabi Muslims. They were given the nickname of “Hathu”. Even in Maharajas Administration, the outside Muslim Officers would denigrate the Kashmiris and consider them wretched souls. This was one of the main causes, which did not allow Kashmiri intelligentsia to click with the Muslim League leadership. They completely missed a Kashmiri’s inner psyche.

The second blunder was to send Tribals in support of the Poonch revolt. Pakistan regular army would have done a better job for them. These people instead of acting as saviours of the people turned into marauders and were driven back even after reaching outskirts of Srinagar.

After the intervention of Security Council invoked by India, there was a ceasefire. Pakistan was able to create a definite region, which they named Azad or Free Kashmir. Here again they committed a blunder but this one was deliberate. Had they been sincere, they would have made Azad Kashmir truly free and independent. It should have been made a member of the United Nations like Bhutan even though its defence would have remained Pakistan’s responsibility. They could have entered into a treaty or a pact with the Kashmiris. Had they done it, India would have failed to retain the other half for long. But Pakistanis demand for Kashmir has been projected as a matter of right to own the State as the unfinished agenda of partition. Strategically they may be right in demanding it. Both for defence as well as economic security of Pakistan they need Kashmir as a friendly neighbour if not their full-fledged part. All their rivers have sources in Kashmir or flow down to them from Kashmir. They are completely vulnerable as Kashmir sits on their head. All through these years Pakistan has failed to completely win over Kashmiris. They may appear to be pro-Pakistani but this is only because that country has been the main saviour and sympathiser for Kashmiris in all troubles inflicted on them by India. If China or for that matter Russia had been outspoken to plead Kashmir’s cause and soothe their suffering, they would have been pro-China or pro-Russia. On Bhutto’s hanging, the only place in the entire sub-continent where there was upheaval against Jamat-i-Islami and violent protests was Kashmir. This was simply because he had declared that he would fight a thousand year war with India to free Kashmiris. They could not imagine that Jamatis who professed to wage Jihad could hang such a person!

The next blunder from Islamabad was the 1965 infiltration. This time Kashmiri regulars forming part of Pakistan Army came in. They had specific tasks and were totally disciplined unlike the tribals of 1947. They tried to cover the intrusion as an uprising but failed. Revolutions can never be exported. Revolutions have to grow in situ on their own. It has been observed that every time a nationalist and patriotic movement starts in Kashmir, it gets scuttled or hi-jacked by Islamabad’s actions. Their leaders, Benazir Bhutto as well as Nawaz Sharif did declare a couple of times that they would support the third option of Kashmiris for total independence if they are given a chance to exercise the right of self determination. However, they had to quickly withdraw their statements due to public pressure. Islamabad wants Kashmir and not Kashmiris. They will fight India for Kashmir till the last Kashmiri! If there is no third option then the right of self-determination loses its meaning. It simply amounts to asking to hand over Kashmir to them, as Kashmiris are not happy with India.

In 1990 when there was the last major uprising in Kashmir, Islamabad committed yet another blunder. There was a massive upsurge of Kashmiri nationalistic feelings. People in millions came out on roads demanding Azadi or Freedom. India put down the uprising with a heavy hand. There was a reaction. The Jammu & Kashmir Liberation Front started an armed resistance movement. However, the movement got soon fractured into pro-Independence and pro-Pakistan factions. There was violence everywhere. Attempts were made to both communalise as well as criminalise the movement. These succeeded to some extent and gave it a tainted projection globally. Once peaceful land known as Paradise on Earth turned into a virtual hell.

Following this there were two occasions when the two countries reached the brink of total war. The situation was saved only due to intervention of Western Powers led by USA. Both the countries came to realise that violence will not get them anywhere. They started attempts at coming together with the timely pats from Uncle Sam or Big Brother Bush. A number of CBMs (Confidence Building Measures) were initiated. There has been a ceasefire on the border but violence continues in the valley. Kashmiris continue to live in a state of siege. Innocent people still get killed everyday. Blunders are still made. This is happening, as both sides do not trust Kashmiris. They talk about Kashmir without Kashmiris. The first task of both should to be creating an atmosphere of peace in Kashmir itself. This can be done by withdrawing the draconian legislations, Armed Forces Special Powers Act and the Disturbed Areas Act, removing forces from civilian areas and sending these back to barracks and declaring an internal ceasefire. Both the countries should repose complete trust in all the people of Kashmir irrespective of their religion, cast and creed and should have a dialogue with all sections of the society no matter what their views be. This is the only way forward. Use of force on either side will get us nowhere and will go on adding to the list of blunders. The vicious circle of violence can only be stopped if the two countries genuinely and honestly try to resolve the problem than manage it!