The New Nation - Internet Edition

It is now once again in Jammu and Kashmir for weeks now that Muslim bloods are being spilled by Indian security forces. The NDTV 24/7, famous Indian TV channel, reported in the 5:30 A.M. (Dhaka Time) news coverage that 13 Kashmiris (all Muslims) were killed yesterday, the 12th August (08). Some other had been killed the previous day including a leader of the Kashmiri Muslims. Islamabad made a mild protest for the killings; India reacted seriously against Pakistan not to 'interfere into the internal affairs of India'.

It is an international norm that no sovereign country should interfere into the internal affairs of another for respect to each others sovereignty. Based on the norm, India would have been right to make protest statement. But the case of Jammu and Kashmir is hardly exclusive internal matter of India. It still continues to remain for over six decades as the unsettled matter not only between India and Pakistan but also involving the UN. Unfortunately India has been on with all possible offensives against the overwhelming majority people of Jammu and Kashmir who happened to be the followers Islam.

Indian history of the last millennium had been a continuing fight of the Muslims standing for human equality opposed by racial and caste divides between man and man of the older culture of Hinduism. The culmination was the 1947 divide for irreconcilable matters in regard to independent statehood. The Kashmiri Muslims had the same aspiration but some immature leader/s did all the mess in late 1940s that has given birth to the crisis in fates of the masses there and so remained as of today. But at times, they appreciate follies of their past unsound leaders and so look for way out. Big Indian Military might keeps on suppressing the wishes of the people. The international communities, the UN, in particular, can not shark off its responsibility in the matter for deciding on the wishes and popular aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The UN had its role quite appreciable beginning in late 1940s, but it seems now that the organization has forgotten issue that if not treated fairly immediately might turn into another Palestine in the world scene of conflicts and more blood letting of the Muslims. The Muslims and all of their organizations including the OIC must take the issue seriously if they mean business for welfare of the UMMAH.

M.T. Hussain

Dhaka.