Dr Shiekh Showkat
Obama’s India visit is generating a lot of interest in Kashmir as people here expect that he may be able to persuade Indian state to concede the demands of Kashmiris. Whether these expectations come true or prove to be an illusion can become clear only when the visit ends. Kashmiris need to understand that Americans are only guided by their own interests. The history of American U-turns on Kashmir makes it obvious. In 1947 British on account of Labour rule remaining inclined towards India, Americans being their allies followed suit.
The disproportionate weightage given to Indian interests in partition of the subcontinent was result of that policy. Soon after partition the West however realized that India was inclined towards Soviet Union. Western countries developed a soft corner for Pakistan thus putting India into a situation where it was made to take Kashmir to UN on its own. Nehru reflected this understanding in his letters to Vijay Laxmi Pandit. Despite India joining Non-Aligned Movement it continued to be perceived as a Soviet backyard.
Americans supported Kashmir in UN where as USSR used their veto in favour of India. This situation continued up to 1962 when China attacked India. West developed sympathy for India and even offered military assistance. Though India refused to accept military assistance yet it benefitted from US embargo upon military supplies to the Sub-Continent in 1965 war. US continued to follow the same policy up to 1971. Pakistan remained irrelevant to it, so was Kashmir. UN stopped its focus on Kashmir. Growing proximity between India and Russia, and dismemberment of Pakistan shocked Americans.
It was perceived that Pakistan had to pay this price for bringing US and China closer. Americans dispatched their 7th fleet thus forcing Indians to withdraw from Bangladesh. Americans and Chinese kept Kashmir issue alive by focusing on it in the joint statement of their first ever meeting of their Heads of States. USSR intrusion in Afghanistan made Pakistan a frontline state thus bringing it closer to US. It was in this scenario that Pakistan wanted to re-enact Afghan War in Kashmir. Americans indirectly contributed to revival of Kashmir freedom movement and insurgency. Soon after Soviet Union got dismantled Kashmiris anticipated that they too will get freedom like East European nations.
US abandoned central Asia and started to focus on west Asia. 9/11 forced US into Afghan adventurism. Pakistan again became frontline state albeit, in War against terror. Insurgencies in all their forms and manifestations however were dubbed as terrorism. Kashmir resistance remained no exception.
Afghan adventure is proving to be a nightmare for US, from which exit is only possible through more support of Pakistan. Pakistan for this purpose demands disengagement on its eastern borders. Kashmir has become relevant for the sake of American interests in Afghanistan. Kashmir being a Muslim issue has again assumed importance because the alienated Muslim World needs a concession making resolution of Kashmir indispensable. Kashmiri political outfits, be they local or the ones working overseas, should however not harbour expectations from US nor should beg meetings with their officials.
Americans after all are not indispensable for resolution of Kashmir dispute. Most of the Asian and African nations achieved their freedom overcoming American opposition. Americans always tried to block the decolonization process because colonizers, be they British or French, happened to be their allies. For decades they consistently supported the racist regimes of South Africa, and Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) yet these regimes crumbled under the pressure of their own society and forces of change.
