Dear Kashmiris,
Kashmir has been burning for many decades now. There has never been any sustained peace. Many generations have seen only violence and destruction. Schools and colleges have not functioned for full terms. All means of livelihood have been adversely affected and people have no steady income. Tourism, a major industry, is non-existant. People have been killed in terror attacks. Pundits have been driven out their state. There are demonstrations every so often. Young men and women indulge in stone throwing. In short, the paradise has turned into hell.
And all for azaadi. An azaadi, that you have been promised, is a heaven. As the ultimate goal of every Kashmiri. Something that is worth dying for. A release from India.
But pause for a moment to think what has been achieved so far. Normal life has been disrupted. There is mindless violence everywhere. There is nothing to feel satisfied about when you go to bed and nothing to look forward to when you get up in the morning. More than 47,000 people have lost their lives in the last two decades of conflict despite Kashmir having the highest life expectancy in India.
Think. The likes of Hafiz Saeed and Azar Masood, who are classified as terrorists, are the prime actors from across the border. They send in trained terrorists to kill Indians. But they are not even Kashmiris. They are just stoodges for Pakistan's ISI.
People in Iraq, Libya and Syria also wanted aazadi. They had compelling reasons. They were being persecuted by the regimes. Goaded by external influences, they rebelled against their authoritarian governments. But what did they achieve ? Only destruction of their homes and country, loss of lives and livelihood and only a bleak future to look forward to. Decades of conflict has played havoc with their lives. But what of the nations that encouraged them to overthrow their governments ? They just don't care.
Pakistan is becoming a joke day by day. With no worthwhile economy, it exists on the largesse of the US. Its only profitable industry is terrorism. The army, which runs the government irrespective of who is in office, treats the country like its private fiefdom. A PIA pilot sleeps for two and a half hours on a flight unmindful of even his own safety ! In Pakistan, not everyone is equal. There are many minority communities that are persecuted. Shias are targeted by militants. Anyone depending on Pakistan for support is really pushing his luck. It is highly probable that Pakistan will cease to exist as a nation in a few decades, destroyed by the terrorism it nurtures, consumed by the hatred for minorities and ethnic groups.
Kasmiris, just think. Don't you want to progress and prosper ? Don't you yearn for peace ? Do you not wish to see your children go to school ? Do you want to let a few misguided gun-totting youth hold you to ransom ? Can you imagine what life will be under the terror outfits ? Just read up on what the situation is in Libya or Iraq. Forget aazadi, you will only be a slave under the militant rulers.
Let not the militant propaganda sway you. Do not be brainwashed by the aazadi brigade. You need to chart your future, your destiny. And the only way is to kick out the aazadi mongers and work for your own progress.
Gar firdaus bar-rue zamin ast, hami asto, hamin asto, hamin ast. - If there is a heaven on earth, it is here, it is here. So said the emperor Jehangir about Kashmir. It is entirely up to you Kashmiris to regain the paradise that was.
Kashmir has been burning for many decades now. There has never been any sustained peace. Many generations have seen only violence and destruction. Schools and colleges have not functioned for full terms. All means of livelihood have been adversely affected and people have no steady income. Tourism, a major industry, is non-existant. People have been killed in terror attacks. Pundits have been driven out their state. There are demonstrations every so often. Young men and women indulge in stone throwing. In short, the paradise has turned into hell.
And all for azaadi. An azaadi, that you have been promised, is a heaven. As the ultimate goal of every Kashmiri. Something that is worth dying for. A release from India.
But pause for a moment to think what has been achieved so far. Normal life has been disrupted. There is mindless violence everywhere. There is nothing to feel satisfied about when you go to bed and nothing to look forward to when you get up in the morning. More than 47,000 people have lost their lives in the last two decades of conflict despite Kashmir having the highest life expectancy in India.
Think. The likes of Hafiz Saeed and Azar Masood, who are classified as terrorists, are the prime actors from across the border. They send in trained terrorists to kill Indians. But they are not even Kashmiris. They are just stoodges for Pakistan's ISI.
People in Iraq, Libya and Syria also wanted aazadi. They had compelling reasons. They were being persecuted by the regimes. Goaded by external influences, they rebelled against their authoritarian governments. But what did they achieve ? Only destruction of their homes and country, loss of lives and livelihood and only a bleak future to look forward to. Decades of conflict has played havoc with their lives. But what of the nations that encouraged them to overthrow their governments ? They just don't care.
Pakistan is becoming a joke day by day. With no worthwhile economy, it exists on the largesse of the US. Its only profitable industry is terrorism. The army, which runs the government irrespective of who is in office, treats the country like its private fiefdom. A PIA pilot sleeps for two and a half hours on a flight unmindful of even his own safety ! In Pakistan, not everyone is equal. There are many minority communities that are persecuted. Shias are targeted by militants. Anyone depending on Pakistan for support is really pushing his luck. It is highly probable that Pakistan will cease to exist as a nation in a few decades, destroyed by the terrorism it nurtures, consumed by the hatred for minorities and ethnic groups.
Kasmiris, just think. Don't you want to progress and prosper ? Don't you yearn for peace ? Do you not wish to see your children go to school ? Do you want to let a few misguided gun-totting youth hold you to ransom ? Can you imagine what life will be under the terror outfits ? Just read up on what the situation is in Libya or Iraq. Forget aazadi, you will only be a slave under the militant rulers.
Let not the militant propaganda sway you. Do not be brainwashed by the aazadi brigade. You need to chart your future, your destiny. And the only way is to kick out the aazadi mongers and work for your own progress.
Gar firdaus bar-rue zamin ast, hami asto, hamin asto, hamin ast. - If there is a heaven on earth, it is here, it is here. So said the emperor Jehangir about Kashmir. It is entirely up to you Kashmiris to regain the paradise that was.
Many people with out knowing the consequences or realising similarities would be leading to disaster... Then it will be too late...
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