By Col Tej K. Tikoo, Ph.D. (Retd.)
Kashmir Dossier: Terrorists, Freedom Fighters and Nationalists is the latest addition to the “Exodus Literature” — books written by members of the displaced Kashmiri Pandit community living in exile. The 222-page book under review, published by Sabre and Quill, has been authored by Col Rajeev Raina (Retd.), who, as a member of the displaced community, is eminently suited to present a credible narrative of the terrorists and the so-called “freedom fighters” responsible for the ethnic cleansing of the microscopic Kashmiri Pandit community from the Valley in 1989–90. More importantly, he is also competent enough to write about the silent voices of the numerous young people of Kashmir who, despite facing threats from Pakistan-sponsored religious fanatics, kept the Tiranga flying even in the most challenging circumstances.
Rajeev, it may be mentioned, played a significant role in instilling confidence and self-belief among the nationalists during his tenure in the Valley. The fact that patriotic people carrying or unfurling the Tiranga in Kashmir were no longer afraid of reprisals by radical terrorists came as a breath of fresh air from the Valley, where separatists and fork-tongued politicians had long set the narrative, mostly against India and generally in favour of Pakistan. Rajeev played a significant role in giving these patriotic elements a voice.
Essentially, the book concentrates on the role played by Pakistan in exploiting the youth of Kashmir — on both sides of the Line of Control — for serving its own ends. The book also presents irrefutable evidence of how Kashmiri leaders, while swearing by India in Delhi, played the tune of Azadi and Pakistan in Kashmir to keep their vote banks tethered to their parties. It lays bare the hypocrisy of Pakistan, which proclaims to the world from every religious and diplomatic platform that it supports Kashmiri “freedom fighters” in their struggle against “Indian oppression,” while, in reality, it has little concern for Kashmiris themselves. The book presents evidence-based history proving time and again that Pakistan covets Kashmir’s geography and strategic location far more than it cares about the people of Kashmir.
From the early sixties until the late eighties, when armed uprising began in Kashmir, Pakistan’s hypocrisy was evident in its treatment of Kashmiri youth. A classic case discussed by the author is the hijacking of the Indian Airlines Fokker Friendship aircraft Ganga to Lahore during its flight from Srinagar by two Kashmiri brothers, Hashim Qureishi and Ashraf Qureishi. On its arrival in Lahore, the hijackers were given a rousing reception, with none other than Zulfikar Ali Bhutto himself arriving to felicitate them. The aircraft was subsequently set on fire. However, the euphoric glorification of the hijackers soon gave way to Pakistan’s deep state arresting the two brothers and subjecting them to inhuman torture on suspicion that they were Indian agents. They suffered innumerable hardships, brutal violence, and long periods of solitary confinement.
It may be mentioned that this hijacking, with Pakistan’s complicity being all too evident, subsequently resulted in India banning Pakistani flights over Indian airspace to East Pakistan — an action that contributed significantly to Pakistan’s defeat in the 1971 war. Ironically, when the hijacking took place in January 1971, the revolt brewing in East Pakistan had not yet fully emerged even as a political possibility. Nevertheless, despite severe torture, the hijackers refused to sign statements establishing their complicity in what Pakistan claimed was an Indian intelligence operation.
The book traces the emergence of various militant groups made up entirely of Kashmiri youth from both sides of the Line of Control, all believing in “liberating” Kashmir through violent means. These groups eventually metamorphosed into the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), which spearheaded the armed uprising in the Valley during the late eighties. It is surprising that these young men, driven by the concept of Jihad, fell into the trap of Pakistani ISI propaganda despite being aware of the fate suffered by earlier “liberators” like Amanullah Khan, Maqbool Bhat, and the Qureishi brothers.
Be that as it may, a large number of Kashmiri youths picked up arms to “liberate” Kashmir. Pakistan not only funded them but also trained them and provided logistical support. Many crossed over to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, where they were trained in camps already being used for Afghan Mujahideen. Upon returning to Kashmir, they unleashed ruthless violence directed primarily at Kashmiri Pandits, pro-establishment individuals, and nationalist Muslims. The romanticism associated with being an armed Jihadi, along with admiration from sections of society, further swelled their ranks. However, because the JKLF advocated independence rather than merger with Pakistan, its days were numbered. Pakistan soon sidelined it and replaced it first with Hizbul Mujahideen (HM), which openly advocated Kashmir’s merger with Pakistan bara-e-raast Islam, and later with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), both composed entirely of Pakistani cadres.
The author touches upon nearly every political and socio-religious development of the past century that impacted Kashmir’s social and political life — developments that continue to influence the Kashmir narrative even today. These include the rise of Sheikh Abdullah, the formation of the Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference, its split and the creation of the National Conference, the revolt against Maharaja Hari Singh, and the fateful events of July 13, 1931. The Indo-Pak war of 1947–48, including the sack of Baramulla and the legend of Maqbool Sherwani, also find mention.
The author further discusses post-accession developments that later contributed to the militant Islamic uprising of 1988, including the theft and recovery of the Moi-e-Muqadas from Hazratbal Shrine, the creation of the Plebiscite Front, the formation of the Awami Action Committee, the Sheikh-Indira Accord of 1975, and Sheikh Abdullah’s return to power, which had disastrous consequences for nationalists in the state.
While describing in detail the birth of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), the author provides sufficient background to explain the creation of this umbrella organisation that brought together anti-India and pro-Pakistan militant and separatist groups. However, the author overlooks the role allegedly played by the United States, particularly through Robin Raphel, who is believed by many to have contributed to bringing these groups together. That experiment, however, lasted only a few years.
Col Raina also describes in detail the burning down of Kashmir’s revered shrine at Charar-e-Sharief and the role played by local support networks in enabling the tragedy. This incident remains among the most shameful episodes of nearly four decades of militancy in Kashmir.
The author also dwells upon Sheikh Abdullah’s lust for power, which led to his political estrangement from Jinnah, the Muslim League, Maulvi Yousuf Shah (the Mirwaiz of Kashmir), Chaudhary Ghulam Abbas, and later Mirwaiz Maulvi Farooq. The author painstakingly explains the challenges India continues to face because of Pakistan’s deep influence over Kashmir’s political and social developments. The role played by Pakistan’s proxies continues to keep tensions simmering in the Valley. The book reinforces, through examples, the doublespeak of pro-Pakistan political leaders who are quick to criticize New Delhi at the slightest provocation but remain silent whenever Pakistan crosses the Lakshman Rekha.
The author pulls no punches while describing the weak response of the Centre to the duplicity of mainstream Kashmiri politicians, whose primary concern often appeared to be extracting financial packages from New Delhi while simultaneously nurturing anti-India sentiment in the Valley.
This is a handy and important book — a valuable addition to the narrative surrounding Kashmir’s lesser-discussed milestones, viewed in the context of the violence that transformed the so-called “Heaven on Earth” into a veritable hell.
I missed an index at the end of the book.
(Note:- Colonel (Retd.) Dr. Tej K. Tikoo is a retired Indian Army officer, defence analyst, author, and prominent advocate of the Kashmiri Pandit community. A native of Srinagar, he served for 34 years in the Indian Army and later authored the acclaimed book Kashmir: Its Aborigines and Their Exodus.)
