THIS is with reference to the report ‘Security high as India-held Kashmir votes in round two of regional polls’ (Sept 25). The current local elections are the first since the revocation of Articles 370 and 35-A of Indian Constitution, aimed at integrating the princely state into Indian territory.

The political arena in Kashmir reflects a weak position for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) except in the Jammu region. Moreover, the local All-Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), a major political stakeholder in the valley, boyc-otted the elections in view of the revocation of India-occupied Kashmir’s special status.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, by revoking the status of occupied Kashmir and by holding elections in the valley, wants to give the world an impression that the disputed territory is an integral part of India, and has nothing to do with Pakistan.

Pakistan has a strong stance opposing the elections, as the exercise is in direct violation of the relevant United Nations resolutions. Pakistan contends that elections cannot be a substitute to the proposed plebiscite in the region. More importantly, the presence of heavy military personnel in the area depicted how fair the elections were going to be.

There are bright chances of local Kashmiri parties winning the elections and thereby forming a coalition govern-ment with Congress, which, to a large extent, is a democratic party in India. Farooq Abdullah, a prominent politician from occupied Kashmir, has already claimed that if they are victorious in the elections, their government will restore the special status of the region by pres-enting a bill in the state assembly.

It is because of the legal point of view that the status of Kashmir can only be changed by none other than the state assembly itself.

The victory of BJP, if it comes about, will pose an existential threat to Kashmir and to the local population, given the party’s behaviour exhibited in the past towards the people of the valley.

Shuja Ahmed Awan
Shahdadkot

Published in Dawn, September 28th, 2024