Recently, Indian Army Chief Bipin Rawat issued a veiled threat which stated that those Kashmiris who were creating ‘hurdles’ in security operations in the restive valley would face ‘tough action’. He issued the threat in response to heavy stone-pelting by civilians in Bandipore area of the valley who tried helping separatist militants escape an impending operation by Indian security forces. The statement was met with widespread condemnation by Indian opposition parties and separatist groups such as the National Conference (NC), Indian National Congress (INC), All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF).
However, the ruling parties at both the state and union level endorsed Rawat’s statement while calling opposition parties and groups not to ‘politicise’ the Indian Army. Most groups opposing the statement rightly pointed out that the Indian government is out of touch with the ground realities in the valley that has led to alienation of the Kashmiri youth. The majority of the people residing in the disputed region occupied by India demand a right to self-determination that was promised to them decades ago. The failure to hold a plebiscite not only jeopardised peace but also fomented deep mistrust among the locals against Indian rule.The Kashmir uprisings of 1989 should have awakened Indian authorities for holding a fair referendum but the failure led to further complications over the years with militancy becoming a means to pursue the desired goal of freedom. Moreover, the assassination of Burhan Wani, a popular militant leader associated with Hizbul Mujahideen, in July 2016 became a huge turning point of the Kashmir dispute in its modern history.
