FROM PAKISTAN: KASHMIR AN INDUSTRY FOR FAROOQ ABDULLAH, MEHBOOBA MUFTI AND THE LIKE
June 6, 2023 | Author: Gayatri Mohan
Gayatri Mohan
6 June, 2023
What the discerning, thinking Kashmiris have discussed for decades is now being echoed from Pakistan. Kashmir Is An Industry For Farooq Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti and the like, whether in Kashmir or in Pakistan.
This harsh truth was stated by Wusat Ullah Khan, a popular Pakistani journalist, columnist and TV host. Khan has been associated with BBC Urdu since 1991, and is the co-host of a talk-show Zara Hut Kay for Dawn News.
Khan Spoke On ‘Kashmir Industry’ At Pakistan Literature Festival
On June 4, Khan was one of the panelists at the session on Role Of Media In Kashmir Issue at Pakistan Literature Festival at Muzaffarabad. The event was organized by Arts Council of Pakistan in collaboration with the government of Pakistan-Occupied J&K.
Khan was seated with Hamid Mir, a popular Pakistani journalist, columnist and writer, and some other guests. Speaking at the session, Khan made the following comments on Kashmir which have since gone viral.
“Maaf kijiyega aap (Kashmir) masla nahin hain. Aap hain industry. Is industry ke saath Kashmir Committee ka rozgar laga hua hai. Is industry ke saath Farooq Abdullah ka, Mehbooba Mufti ka aur Azad Kashmir mein jitni bhi political class hai us ka rozgar juda hua hai. To merey pait par laat mein khud kyon maroonga is masle ke baare mein out of box koi solution, ya apne dimag ko zahmat dene ke liye ke yaar agar ye solution nahin to ye kar ke dekh lo.
Kyon? Ye to meri rozi roti ka sawaal hai, pait ka sawaal hai. Meri gaadiyan lagi hui hain, merey allowances lage hue hain. 90 pc mujhe budget mil raha hai markaz (Centre) se…”
(Translation: Kashmir is not a problem. Kashmir is an industry. This industry has gainfully employed Kashmir Committee (in Pakistan). This industry has gainfully employed Farooq Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti and others, and also those in the political class on our (Pakistan) side.
So why will I kick my stomach by looking for some out-of-the-box solution for the Kashmir problem? Why will I trouble my mind that if this solution does not work, let me look for or experiment with some other solution?
Why? Kashmir has become the gainful employment for such persons. The Kashmir issue serves as their bread and butter. They are getting a number of vehicles, they are getting huge allowances in the name of Kashmir. 90 per cent budget for Kashmir is being provided by the Centre…”
Audience Cheered, Clapped When Khan Called Kashmir An Industry For Farooq, Mehbooba And The Like
It is to be noted that when Khan called Kashmir an industry for those in Pakistan, and also for Kashmiri politicians Farooq Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti and the like, the audience cheered and clapped in response. Soon, though, the hall was filled with sloganeering by some youngsters.
To them, Khan responded, “Agar aap kisi soche samjhe agende ke saath aaye hain aur humein nahin sunna chahte to hum chale jaate hain.” (If you have come here with some specific and deliberate agenda and you don’t want to listen to us, we shall leave). At this, Khan and Hamid Mir got up to leave the session.
The moderator for the session, journalist Asma Shirazi, prevailed upon the youngsters to stop the sloganeering and listen to the speakers. When Wusat Ullah Khan resumed his address, he said that the Government of Pakistan had always tried to impose its will on Kashmir without paying heed to the will of the people.
Azadi Proxy For Kashmir Industry
Pakistan is reeling under an existential crisis on the economic, military and social fronts. But the sloganeering by the youngsters at POJK proved that the azadi proxy will continue to create space to keep the Kashmir industry going. The power centers in Rawalpindi and Islamabad thrive in the name of Kashmir. More emotion shall be manufactured and fed into the azadi narrative to keep making gullible, radicalized youths the cannon fodder for the industry.
Kashmiri Politicians Trying To Recreate Conflict Bogey
The fake, empty narratives manufactured around the bogey of azadi provide attractive imagery for anti-India, anti-Modi and anti-BJP forces on the domestic front, and also globally.
The people of Kashmir are now firmly aligning with the mainstream and are building happy and prosperous lives for themselves and their children. Many prominent politicians of Kashmir, on the other hand, continue their efforts to recreate the conflict bogey and ride on it.
The prime objective of these political leaders seems to be to create the pre-2019 situation so that their enterprise is back in the bloody business. Pakistani journalist Wusat Ullah Khan aptly called them conflict entrepreneurs – those who want to create the conflict and benefit from it.
For this end, they keep recreating the scenarios of gloom and doom for Kashmir. For example, they create scenarios where “possible long-term turbulence” can be the consequence if JKLF leader and separatist Yasin Malik is awarded the death sentence.
In Kashmir’s collective conscience, Yasin Malik does not exist. For many years he has not existed. The naqab over people eyes has lifted. People have come to know the reality of Yasin Malik and Co.
The only people who choose to be in the dark about the new normal in Kashmir are the local politicians. Wusat Ullah Khan ably called their bluff at Pakistan Literature Festival.