Does an Annual Day Ensure Solidarity?

On Wednesday, Pakistan celebrated Kashmir Solidarity Day, expressing their support for the right to self-determination for the people of Kashmir on the Indian side of the LoC. Rallies were held across the nation by right wing groups slamming India for human rights atrocities in the region, and Pakistan’s Prime Minister recycled the old narrative that his government was committed to a peaceful resolution of the dispute.

Yet, this national holiday celebrated for 24 years barely registered in the Indian media space or even the social media in the country. The nation is currently gripped with General Election fever, as the national parties are engaged in a perception battle over corruption and good governance, with the voters clearly yearning for a change of guard at the Centre.

But even beyond the elections, what significance does Kashmir Solidarity Day hold? It is one day in the year, which reiterates the standard narrative of the Pakistani state, which has gone nowhere beyond statements and protests. Pakistan’s Kashmir camp still believes that there is a major demand for secession in the region. It is an argument, which is grounded in an old and obsolete sentiment, which
does not consider the current political realities in India and in Kashmir.

In Jammu and Kashmir, the people have the power to exercise their vote, and the citizens have consistently voted for Kashmiri political parties as well as a Kashmiri Chief Minister. J&K has economic autonomy, where only state based firms can operate, and the state government is responsible for the delivery of all major services and amenities. There is a lack of development in the state, but that cannot be blamed on successive central governments. The responsibility lies with the state governments, as well as the constitutionally mandated economic autonomy of the region, which has in fact made it isolated from the economic diversity enjoyed by the rest of India. The socio-political destiny of the Kashmiri people lies in their hands.

In their campaign for self-determination, Hurriyat separatists in Jammu and Kashmir regularly attend public events in Pakistan in an attempt to antagonize the political circles in India to re-start the
debate on secession. Yet, that is all they can do. They have no political clout in the region. All political parties in India are against the separation of Kashmir, yet the people of the state continue to exercise their vote. The Hurriyat has failed to influence or mobilize J&K citizens to boycott voting for the state government. They even lack the gumption to contest elections because they know the voters will not support their mandate.

Pakistan needs to reassess their Kashmir strategy. A stand that the people of Kashmir have the right to self-determination looks good in the international media, but the delivery of such a stand is unsupported by the dynamics on the ground. One-day demonstrations, one-day statements do not ensure or even initiate peace and the resolution of a long standing dispute. The Pakistan government does not even seem to reflect on how they can gain greater diplomatic traction for Kashmir, because there is not even a consideration that the campaign for self-determination is waning. In the shroud of
supporting the people of Kashmir, commemoration of this day is nothing more than the Pakistani state’s attempt to repeatedly press the hate and agitate button against India. It is a reprisal of the trend to promise dialogue on Kashmir and yet take no responsibility to sincerely address cross border terrorism, which always breaks down any progress made by the two sides.

Kashmir Solidarity Day did not register in India because the Indian government and the Indian people have heard it all before. The day is a mockery of the genuine sentiments of the people of Kashmir, because history is a witness that there is no genuine attempt at resolution behind a ceremonious façade of expressing solidarity. Protests and statements on Kashmir Solidarity Day will not achieve anything.