On October 27, 1947, the first Indian soldier from Sikh Regiment landed at the Srinagar airfield. The Pakistan-backed raiders were just a few miles away and it was a touch and go affair.
But with the support of the people of the Valley, the raiders were thrown out in less than a month. Many veterans of the period recall how the Kashmiris welcomed the soldiers as saviours and showered rose petals on them.
But in Kashmir Valley, gratitude is a fickle emotion.
On April 1, 1979, ZA Bhutto was hanged by military dictator Zia Ul Haq. His hanging sparked off large-scale violence in Kashmir Valley. Those owing allegiance to the Jamaat-I-Islami, led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani, were the main target of attack. Hundreds of their houses were destroyed by firebombs. The provocation: the Jamaat had distributed sweets to celebrate Bhutto's hanging. It was the Indian army that came to the rescue of Geelani and his Jamaat.
About a year ago, Geelani was given a new lease of life when he was treated for cancer at Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai. That he continues to spew venom against India is not a comment on India but Geelani's mentality.
Even the early support to India in the Valley evaporated quite fast.
On April 4, 1979, Valley Kashmiris held a congregation in Hazratbal to thank Allah that they were a part of India and paraded a donkey with a placard that read 'I am Zia Ul Haq.' But in less than five years, the same Zia's photograph adorned many Kashmiri homes.
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Pakistan's refusal to accept Indian helicopters for rescue is of the same genre. Even a former Pakistan Army Chief like Mirza Aslam Beg has ridiculed the 'security' argument. Today, with extensive satellite coverage, there is not a corner of Pakistan that is hidden from Indian eyes.
The unstated and real reason to refuse Indian aid is the fear that this would give a lie to the 'demon' image of India and the Indian army that has been built up by the Pakistani establishment.
But since Musharraf has been posing as an advocate of peace between the two countries, he should welcome this change in perception. His refusal to accept aid from India, even at the cost of saving Kashmiri lives, puts a question mark on his sincerity.
On the Indian side, the establishment has been guilty of low key response to the great tragedy that has befallen Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. Since technically we claim the whole of J&K, the people on the other side of the LoC are Indians and their welfare is our concern.
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It is worth recalling the bold initiative by the late Rajiv Gandhi, when in the face of Sri Lankan blockade of Jaffna peninsula he ordered the Indian Air Force to undertake supply drops. While that may not be a feasible proposition vis a vis Pakistan, there are several other initiatives that could have been taken.
The rescue phase is coming to a close now. But unless immediate relief reaches a large number of the shelterless and hungry, more people may well die of cold and hunger than the number that died due to the earthquake.
The Indian move to open three camps for treatment is a welcome move but inadequate.
Since the Indian and Pakistani armies are in close contact over the entire LoC, we must consider handing over relief material directly to the Pakistani army at convenient posts. There are many such places where this can be easily done.
Since the Pakistani army is in any case fully involved in relief work, this would be the best way to reach the remote areas of PoK. This is far better than sending relief material to Islamabad by air, from where it has to be moved to remote areas over clogged and damaged roads.
Another measure India could take is to permit foreign relief teams to approach remote areas in PoK from the Indian side. While Pakistan objects to Indian troops, it has welcomed NATO and Americans. This, despite the fact that many areas are far easier to access from the Indian side. This would also ease the pressure on Pakistan's meagre infrastructure.
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Like in many other confidence building measures, this time too India must act unilaterally by giving relief material to the Pakistan army on the LoC and allowing foreign rescue workers to cross the LoC from this side. This will be a much more meaningful measure than the 'symbolic' crossing of the LoC by many wannabe Hurriyat leaders.
Like in 1947, it is again time for the Indian Army to come to the rescue of Kashmiris in full knowledge that like the proverbial dog's tail, one should not expect any gratitude from the Kashmiris.
But the Indian army does its duty out of a sense of dharma, and not to win plaudits.
