It was with utter dismay
that I read the Oct. 27 editorial on the conflict in Kashmir.
The Indian state of Jammu
and Kashmir has been the epicenter of some of the worst Islamist
terrorism in Southeast Asia. The Times-Union's simplistic
examination of this explosive situation was marred by factual
inaccuracy, no historical perspective and misguided endorsement of a
military dictator.
Jammu and Kashmir was one
of nearly 565 princely states whose rulers were given the option of
joining India or Pakistan when the British rule of India ended in
1947.
Kashmir's Hindu ruler was
still considering his options when Pakistan decided to invade the
region in a bid to shortcut the political process. Kashmir quickly
became an integral part of India soon after.
It is an unfortunate
reality that Pakistan held on to a third of Kashmir, disregarding
U.N. Security Council resolutions and even illegally ceding a
portion of that territory to China.
While Kashmirs in Pakistan
have suffered under the autocracy of their leaders, and increasing
regressive Islamic fundamentalism for over 55 years, Kashmirs in
India have been citizens in the world's largest democracy.
In one of the most
appalling examples of religious cleansing and human rights abuses,
al-Qaida-trained and Pakistan- supported Islamist terrorists killed
thousands of Kashmiri Hindus.
The British Broadcasting
Corp. is misleading in any report that the talks between India and
Pakistan are going nowhere because India rejects Pakistan's call for
a referendum.
In reality, India has
categorically repeated its willingness to dialogue broadly with
Pakistan on all issues, once the cross-border terrorism ceases in
the valley. To date, Gen. Pervez Musharraf has failed to stop that
infiltration.
Furthermore, India legally
holds the Instrument of Accession that made Jammu and Kashmir a part
of its nation, and no country should ever be under any obligation to
negotiate away its people or lands.
And while the opportunistic
Musharraf is an ally of convenience in a war against terrorism -- an
ally only because the Taliban Frankenstein that he created now
threatens his own illegitimate existence as a ruthless military
dictator --we should not forget that he shares in none of the values
of freedom, democracy, human rights, tolerance and pluralism that we
as Americans, or Indians, hold
dear.
