Even as news of violence rages in Kashmir, post the tragic killing of the Rajputana Rifles young Lieutenant Ummer Fayaz and Pakistan’s provocation across the Line of Control…the nation is left wondering if there can ever be a resolution to the Kashmir issue. Few remain optimistic!
Well, to be completely honest…if we look at the situation in its present state — i.e. India’s initiations of talks even as a belligerent Pakistan is busy waging a proxy war since independence — it seems like a distant dream. Of course, you will find several voices in favour of a full-scale war for they believe that it will help bring Pakistan to its knees, forcing them to retreat from their position in Kashmir. Fewer believe that it would still bring a resolution to the problem! [Note: Not to mention that such people forget that Pakistan has nuclear weapons and on top of that, it is a rogue nation!]
But if wars and/or negotiations are not the solution, how can we bring about an end to the Kashmir issue?!? For that, we actually have to understand the repercussions of the insurgency in Kashmir on the lives of the very people who live there — the “Kashmiris”!
Pakistan’s carefully-crafted and state-sponsored proxy war in Kashmir has forced India into deploying its troops in the region…in perpetuity (much to the chagrin of the local population) for this has brought only three things for the Kashmiris — death, debt and destruction.
Of course, what it thereby means is that Kashmiris (both living in and out of Kashmir) are desperately waiting for a resolution so that their disrupted lives too have some semblance of sanity, which makes it the perfect time for a permanent solution.
Of course, the obvious question then becomes — “How can the Kashmir issue be resolved without a war?” Well, the answer lies right in front of us — “economic prosperity”!
If we look at the correlation between war and economic history, we know that wars or any recurring conflict for that matter has not only drained wealth, but has also disrupted markets leading to economic depression. This is because, conflicts take a toll on the economy; after all, you need money and other resources to both create and combat in case of conflict.
In fact, history tells us that the in the event of conflicts, prices (of all commodities) go up, pushing inflation which consequently reduces the living standards of the general citizenry. This is exactly what has happened in Kashmir too. Regular insurgency has robbed people of their livelihoods, wiped out tourism, and has pushed people into a cycle of debt. What’s worse: there seems to be no glimmer of hope either!
Thus, if we want to help Kashmir out of its current problems, we need to look at an economic solution. This is because, econometric evidence shows that economic prosperity has a negative correlation to conflict. Thus, wealth helps reduce dissensions amongst people, helping keep conflicts and wars at bay. Thus, if we wish to find a solution to the Kashmir issue, I’m afraid the solution needs to be economic, not political.
