You are being very charitable to India here. What Kashmir has cannot be sincerely called a democracy if you have to mention that it is heavily controlled by the centre. The deep Islamophobia is not a class issue. Union government has even tried to alter the ethnic and religious makeup of the region with policies like the settlement of Kashmiri pandits.
I think you misunderstood my comment. I never said that Kashmir has complete democracy. My personal belief is that the whole region should be fully autonomous, but we all know that’s not possible. Even if India were to relinquish its part of the region, Pakistan would likely move quickly to take over the rest, and that’s something a significant portion of the population there does not want.
India, as a country, is an anomaly; it shouldn’t exist in its current form, but it does, and colonial rule is to be blamed for that. It is culturally, linguistically, and ideologically fragmented, and the inherent differences between its regions make it all the more surprising that India has survived this long. However, under the current leadership, social cohesion is at risk. Cracks are already visible in the southern part of the country, and similar tensions could emerge in the east as well.
Union government has even tried to alter the ethnic and religious makeup of the region with policies like the settlement of Kashmiri pandits.
So, if a region of Kashmir is to be integrated into India, it’s only fair that it follows the same laws as the rest of the states. Whether it concerns the resettlement of Kashmiri Pandits or land acquisition by non-Muslims, the same rules should apply uniformly across the country. The concept of India is based on complicated, and often flawed, decisions. Let me remind you that the socio-economic landscape of the eastern region deteriorated significantly after the introduction of the Freight Equalization Policy in the 1950s under Prime Minister Nehru’s socialist government. Still, at the time, it was seen as necessary to ensure national integration.
In my opinion, Kashmir will never see complete peace, much like Gaza. Even if Pakistan were to gain full control over the region, its fragile economy and political instability would prevent any meaningful resolution. The conflict will persist, and that is truly unfortunate for Kashmir.
The deep Islamophobia is not a class issue.
I did not correlate class with Islamophobia. Islamophobia exists across all strata of society. What I said was that it is easier to radicalize and weaponize individuals, both Hindu and Muslim, from more disadvantaged backgrounds, and this is happening at the grassroots level.
That’s because you’re trying to find definitive, binary answers to a problem that is much more complex. I’ve replied to all your questions, but if you’re still unclear about my stance or thoughts, feel free to ask specific questions and I’ll clarify.
Edit: Also, what the fuck am I supposed to do if I talk/write like that? I was born before ChatGPT, so maybe ChatGPT is wreckministeresque.
I am not trying to find binaries or anything like that because I just don’t know what you are getting at. Like
So, if a region of Kashmir is to be integrated into India, it’s only fair that it follows the same laws as the rest of the states. Whether it concerns the resettlement of Kashmiri Pandits or land acquisition by non-Muslims, the same rules should apply uniformly across the country.
What are you trying to say here? Sending Hindu settlers to Kashmir is following “the same laws as the rest of the states”? Or the opposite? Your line of reasoning does not make sense to me.
Not actively sending Hindus, but keeping the option open for people of any religion to buy property in India-administered Kashmir, just as it functions in every other Indian state. Since Article 370 has been abrogated, it is only fair that Kashmir be treated like any other Indian state. Of course, this raises concerns about gentrification, but that is an inevitable phenomenon in our capitalistic reality. As I mentioned earlier, an autonomous Kashmir would be the ideal scenario for the region. However, historically, Kashmir’s autonomy has often served as a means for Pakistan to pursue its expansionist ambitions.
1947: India and Pakistan gain independence from Great Britain. The ruler of Kashmir initially decides to remain independent, choosing not to become a part of either Pakistan or India. After militants from Pakistan invade, he signs a letter acceding to India. Pakistan does not recognize the letter as a legal document, sparking war. In 1949, the two countries agree to withdraw all troops behind a mutually agreed ceasefire line, later known as the Line of Control.
1965: India and Pakistan go to war again over Kashmir. The clash did not resolve the dispute over the territory.
1999: India and Pakistan fight a limited border conflict in Kashmir, after armed invaders from Pakistan cross the Line of Control in the town of Kargil.
Pakistan has always been a theistic nation with expansionist ambitions; however, it lacks the might and resources to fulfill them. The 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War was a clear example of its aggressive stance; it was denied a united Islamic nation by the very Muslims of Bangladesh. A similar form of aggression has been experienced by the Kashmiri Muslims for decades. There’s a reason why the Kashmiris chose to elect a pro-India government in the 2024 election, even after the abrogation of Article 370.
Moreover, Kashmir has never been a Muslim-only region. The Mughal invasion, like the arrival of Islam, was a relatively recent development in the context of Kashmir’s long and rich history. I’m not sure if you’re already familiar with the region’s history, but in case you’re not, I recommend the following articles:
Hindus have always been part of Kashmir’s demographic fabric, and they remain so to this day. However, there have been efforts by Islamic fundamentalists to alter that balance, leading to the exodus of the Kashmiri Pandits, the most persecuted non-Muslim community in the region. Therefore, claiming that the government is trying to change the region’s ethnic makeup seems somewhat misguided. And to be clear, this is not a statement about Muslims being bad or Hindus being good; that’s a reductive and pointless debate. This is ultimately a matter of power structures.
You are being very charitable to India here. What Kashmir has cannot be sincerely called a democracy if you have to mention that it is heavily controlled by the centre. The deep Islamophobia is not a class issue. Union government has even tried to alter the ethnic and religious makeup of the region with policies like the settlement of Kashmiri pandits.
I think you misunderstood my comment. I never said that Kashmir has complete democracy. My personal belief is that the whole region should be fully autonomous, but we all know that’s not possible. Even if India were to relinquish its part of the region, Pakistan would likely move quickly to take over the rest, and that’s something a significant portion of the population there does not want.
India, as a country, is an anomaly; it shouldn’t exist in its current form, but it does, and colonial rule is to be blamed for that. It is culturally, linguistically, and ideologically fragmented, and the inherent differences between its regions make it all the more surprising that India has survived this long. However, under the current leadership, social cohesion is at risk. Cracks are already visible in the southern part of the country, and similar tensions could emerge in the east as well.
So, if a region of Kashmir is to be integrated into India, it’s only fair that it follows the same laws as the rest of the states. Whether it concerns the resettlement of Kashmiri Pandits or land acquisition by non-Muslims, the same rules should apply uniformly across the country. The concept of India is based on complicated, and often flawed, decisions. Let me remind you that the socio-economic landscape of the eastern region deteriorated significantly after the introduction of the Freight Equalization Policy in the 1950s under Prime Minister Nehru’s socialist government. Still, at the time, it was seen as necessary to ensure national integration.
In my opinion, Kashmir will never see complete peace, much like Gaza. Even if Pakistan were to gain full control over the region, its fragile economy and political instability would prevent any meaningful resolution. The conflict will persist, and that is truly unfortunate for Kashmir.
I did not correlate class with Islamophobia. Islamophobia exists across all strata of society. What I said was that it is easier to radicalize and weaponize individuals, both Hindu and Muslim, from more disadvantaged backgrounds, and this is happening at the grassroots level.
What points are you trying to make exactly? Your responses look very chatgptesque. There are a lot of words but very little conviction.
That’s because you’re trying to find definitive, binary answers to a problem that is much more complex. I’ve replied to all your questions, but if you’re still unclear about my stance or thoughts, feel free to ask specific questions and I’ll clarify.
Edit: Also, what the fuck am I supposed to do if I talk/write like that? I was born before ChatGPT, so maybe ChatGPT is wreckministeresque.
I am not trying to find binaries or anything like that because I just don’t know what you are getting at. Like
What are you trying to say here? Sending Hindu settlers to Kashmir is following “the same laws as the rest of the states”? Or the opposite? Your line of reasoning does not make sense to me.
Not actively sending Hindus, but keeping the option open for people of any religion to buy property in India-administered Kashmir, just as it functions in every other Indian state. Since Article 370 has been abrogated, it is only fair that Kashmir be treated like any other Indian state. Of course, this raises concerns about gentrification, but that is an inevitable phenomenon in our capitalistic reality. As I mentioned earlier, an autonomous Kashmir would be the ideal scenario for the region. However, historically, Kashmir’s autonomy has often served as a means for Pakistan to pursue its expansionist ambitions.
Source
Pakistan has always been a theistic nation with expansionist ambitions; however, it lacks the might and resources to fulfill them. The 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War was a clear example of its aggressive stance; it was denied a united Islamic nation by the very Muslims of Bangladesh. A similar form of aggression has been experienced by the Kashmiri Muslims for decades. There’s a reason why the Kashmiris chose to elect a pro-India government in the 2024 election, even after the abrogation of Article 370.
Moreover, Kashmir has never been a Muslim-only region. The Mughal invasion, like the arrival of Islam, was a relatively recent development in the context of Kashmir’s long and rich history. I’m not sure if you’re already familiar with the region’s history, but in case you’re not, I recommend the following articles:
A detailed account of the annexation of Kashmir by the Mughal rulers by Khalid Bashir Ahmad, a Kashmiri author.
An article on the original inhabitants of Kashmir.
Hindus have always been part of Kashmir’s demographic fabric, and they remain so to this day. However, there have been efforts by Islamic fundamentalists to alter that balance, leading to the exodus of the Kashmiri Pandits, the most persecuted non-Muslim community in the region. Therefore, claiming that the government is trying to change the region’s ethnic makeup seems somewhat misguided. And to be clear, this is not a statement about Muslims being bad or Hindus being good; that’s a reductive and pointless debate. This is ultimately a matter of power structures.