"The biggest casualty of a war is an innocent."
This line is very easy to understand by relating it with the present scenario of the valley. The valley is burning everyday, people are living in fear, killing of innocents etc etc.
"War is young men dying and old men talking."
In past one and a half month, i have come to know the views of some Kashmiris. They say what "Azaadi" means to them is pure freedom. As per them, only 10-20% of Kashmiris want to go with Pakistan and rest of the people want to be left alone as an independent country. They don't want to see Indian troops on their roads, harassing their women and children.
On the other hand, I hear that a CRPF soldier was surrounded by more than 1000 protestors with stones in their hands. In that condition, how on earth would anyone expect him not to fire to save his life? He also has a family to feed. If you throw stones on army then you can't expect flowers in return.
"A bullet never sees the age of the person it hits."
May be this line could explain the situation behind killings of innocent children. The army fired at mob. I am not an eye-witness so, i never say it was not army's fault at all. but i find it hard to understand that what these children were doing in that violent crowd?
I respect the fact that Kashmiris want to be left on their own. They don't want to live in fear. they dont want to see that fear in their mother's eyes when they go out for work. they don't want to be a target of a bullet or tear gas shell. they also have the right to live with full dignity and freedom like any other human being.
This kind of thing is most devastating for school going children. Some days back, i read this on someone's facebook status- "Kashmir is the only place in world where schools open on Sunday and remain closed for rest of the week". I can't even think of such a scenario in my life.
The final question is what is the solution to this crisis? is it the way the HURRIYAT wants it to be or is it something else? You can't even keep silent when you feel that somebody's taking over your personal freedom but you can't also just throw stones and back fire and thus make situation more tense.
How can anyone expect HURRIYAT to feel the pain of a common Kashmiri student when their own lads are brought up in British and American schools? Their leaders are not bearing loss in business like a common houseboat owner.
This goes for all the politicians including leaders from my country, Kashmir and Pakistan. they don't have any heart feelings for a common man's pain. Our pain has always been their gain. They exploit our differences to remain in power. They ignite violence in the names of Kashmiriyat, Azaadi, Jehad etc etc.
On a totally different sideline, i feel astonished when i hear Kashmiris talking about Human Right Violations in valley. What about the violations when Kashmiri Pandits were forced to leave their homeland in '89. I am not saying this with my eyes closed. A few days ago, a well known US Senator, Frank Palon, intorduced this fact in Senate that the population of Pandits in valley which was around 4 lakh in 1989, has now reduced to 4000 only.
Secondly, when the separatists say that India blocks their oil supply. How can you expect truck drivers to visit valley again when they were brutally beaten up the first time they visited it? What is their fault in all this?
Now for those 20% who want to be with Pakistan, just because majority of population there is Muslim, I would like to say that it's just insane to move into their country when they are no match to India in every global aspect. Even their PMs and Presidents are not safe once they are out of power. they either have to fly to some foreign country or end up their lives in jail.
As a Jammuite, i really feel that Kashmir is totally different from Jammu in every aspect. We find it hard to understand each others' feelings. For example, Kashmir is facing violence at these times but Jammu is normal. Still Jammu also has to face the SMS ban imposed on the state of J&K. A ban on any media is just pathetic and makes life miserable in modern times.
P.S:::: In my life till now, i haven't ever been to valley so the views expressed above are just based on facts and what I have come to know from friends on both sides. If in any case, my views hurt anyone's feeling then I deeply regret for the same.
