It was the movie “Lion of the Desert” on the life of legendary Libyan freedom fighter Omar Mukhtar which ignited the simmering fire in the hearts of Kashmiris in 1989. The mighty Communist USSR was too disintegrating into several nations. The technological innovation made it possible to view those historical moments in respect to the grand collapse of the USSR. The ground was fertile for re-raising the demand of Independence of Kashmir. “We want Azadi (Independence)” rent the air of Srinagar and other urban centres in the Kashmir Valley.
After one year, this ‘Lost Rebellion’ will be two decade old. Meanwhile enough water has fallen in the Jhelum river. The West is no longer interested in propping up the struggle of Kashmiris in the post 9/11 world. Pakistan is too witnessing the historical moments of revival of democracy for the betterment of the country. Pakistan, the financier and moral booster, besides providing base to the infiltrators and mercenaries in the name of Islam, has preferred to adopt a lukewarm attitude on the vexed Kashmir issue. A few days ago, Zardari, the PM aspirant told a new channel that the Kashmir issue could be shelved for the time being. He expressed the priority of the new Pakistani rulers. No murmur was heard in Pakistan over this blunt about-turn of Pakistani ruling elite on the issue of Kashmir which was played by successive rulers to arouse the sentiments of Pakistanis.
The All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) stands divided. One faction is headed by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq while the other one is being led by the hardliner octogenarian separatist leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami SAS Geelani. It is believed that the Hurriyat has not received funds from Pakistan for the last three months. It seems that the romance of Pakistan with Kashmir is over. On the other hand, the Kashmiris in the valley are reaping the spending spree of the middle-class Indians who flock to the Valley.
The recent unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo, another Muslim majority country on the map of the world, notwithstanding the opposition by Russia is not cutting any ice with the Kashmiris whose separatist tendencies are meeting the hostile reception everywhere in the world.
