Cover Story/Kashmir Valley: ?We are true Indians and believe in Modi?: Ex-Militants

Rajeev Pandita
After interacting with a group of surrendered militants one can say that “Nothing is Lost” in Kashmir and  that they have full confidence in Prime Minister Narendra Modi and their future is secured with India.

While interacting with a group of surrendered Militants who have named their association as “Ex-Militants Welfare Association”  which has 27,000 surrendered militants and if we add their family members, the number could rise to 65,000,  all  firmly believe that violence will lead them nowhere and that they believe in Indian State and are Indians in real sense of the word. However the irony, they said, is that all the previous and successive governments have not reached them for bringing  peace in the Valley for which they are willing to contribute. Now their hopes are on PM Modi as they believe that it is for the first time that they have a powerful Prime Minister who can resolve the problems in Kashmir.
When asked why they picked up guns in first instance, all of them had a different story to narrate. Omar Khan (Name Changed) said that he was studying in 9th class in 1990 when he crossed over to Pakistan   because of the excitement to get the gun training rathar than the so-called cause of
liberating Kashmir. When asked about what was the atmosphere in training camps mostly in PoK, he said that Pakistani handlers told him that mosques in Kashmir would be locked since Islam is in danger and that we should fight for saving it. But when we crossed over to India after the training, we didn’t find anything what was being indoctrinated in training camps in Pakistan and we decided to surrender our arms and lead a simple life. After spending almost six years in jail, Omar now wants peace in Kashmir and a secured future for his children.
Another surrendered militant Abdul Raja (name Changed) narrated his story of  picking the gun. He said that in 1989 when the turmoil began in Kashmir at the behest of Pakistan, a police car was torched in Handwara and some 27 persons were arrested for having been  involved in the crime. Fearing his name might also figure in the list, he crossed over to Pakistan so that he could avoid the arrest because at that time a strong wave was gripping the youth of the Kashmir that crossing over to Pakistan and getting gun training would solve all the problems in Kashmir and they would become the heroes. However he adds, it all turned out to be pure “Hoax” as there were vested interests of some handlers who would get money in lieu of number of people who would cross over to PoK to get training sponsored by ISI and other agencies in Pakistan. He even added that they were sent to fight Afghan War by their ISI handlers for some time in 1989 and once the war was over there they were sent to Kashmir to fight the so-called “Holy Jihad” with Rs 500, 100 grams of Gudh and 100 grams of Channa to cross over to India. On crossing over to Kashmir in India he felt that there was nothing that was preached in the camps in PoK.  One day his mother rebuked him for he had done a blunder and he should correct it by surrendering and so he had put down his arms and after spending nine years in jail he now wants o lead normal life in Kashmir which is bereft of violence so that his children might get a secured future.
On being asked if separatists were the real representatives of Kashmiris they all said in unanimous voice ‘NO’,  Separatists are the biggest enemies of Kashmiri people as they have kept their children in safe heavens and are provoking kids of common Kashmiris like us to pelt stones and pick-up guns”. “Government of India should not have talks with separatists as they are not our real representatives and would never want problems in Kashmir to get resolved as their vested interests would be safe with the continuance of the turmoil and they would never want this to get resolved.” They even added that one of the prominent separatist leader SAS Geelani once called them for meeting and asked them to join their camp but they bluntly refused the offer saying, “When we had picked guns, you were our leader and now we are striving for peaceful Kashmir and you can’t play any role in that.” and they left the meeting midway.
When asked about the young students pelting stones, Abdul Sattar (name changed) said that the children who pelt stones are doing it more because of the excitement than any other cause and one of the main factors behind youth pelting stones in kashmir is lack of source of entertainment in Kashmir and other being rising unemployment which the previous governments ignored.
When asked about the way forward, they suggested that since they were instrumental in fomenting the trouble in Kashmir in early 1990 (the decision which they regretted later), they very well know the solution So, Government of India should initiate a dialogue with them. They added, As we,  the real representatives of Kashmir  and have seen the worst of times and have faced the brunt of it as well, there can’t be better representatives who could suggest some corrective measures which will bring peace in Kashmir and the least we expect from the government is our security and security of our kiths and kins.’
There is a huge nationalistic populace living in Kashmir who is willing to contribute in bringing peace in the Valley and what is required is reaching out to them so that they can be brought on board and their concerns and valuable suggestions can lead them to prosperous Kashmir over-crowded with tourists and bereft of terrorism.
The question is big for those who exhort the youth to join jihad and become militants. Their own sons and daughters are well settled in government services.
In simple words, separatists and anti-national elements want to decimate the aspirations of the Kashmiri youth who want to study and achieve its fruits in their lives.