United States Military Academy (USMA), a US military think – tank, in its latest research has presented a case study focusing on the need for adopting a Kashmir peace deal.
Author of Gambling with Violence: State Outsourcing of War in Pakistan and India, Yelena Biberman, stressed on why the newly formed Biden Government needs to make Kashmir peace talks one of its foreign policy goals in next 4 years.
“Any time is a good time to treat a festering wound,” a Kashmiri activist and doctor memorably responded to my question about when to tackle the Kashmir crisis.” Biberman wrote in the 21 page long report.
“Kashmir is a ‘festering wound’ from the standpoint of democratic freedoms and human rights,” the report further read.
The 21 page long report compiled by Yelena Biberman, the author of Gambling with Violence: State Outsourcing of War in Pakistan and India laid emphasis on why the newly formed Biden Government needs to make Kashmir peace talks one of its foreign policy goals in next 4 years.
“Any time is a good time to treat a festering wound,” a Kashmiri activist and doctor memorably responded to my question about when to tackle the Kashmir crisis.” Biberman wrote in the report.
“Kashmir is a ‘festering wound’ from the standpoint of democratic freedoms and human rights,” the report further read.
The report has suggested that US needs not to play the role of an official mediator, as such requests made by the former President Donald Trump were categorically rejected by India citing Kashmir as a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan.
“India’s reputation has suffered in the past year. New Delhi’s cancellation of Kashmir’s special status in August 2019 and subsequent crackdown on an already highly militarized region sent shockwaves around the world. Despite being cut off from each other and the world, Kashmiris suddenly gained global attention and sympathy. As a Democratic contender, Biden asked the Indian government to ‘take all necessary steps to restore rights for all the people of Kashmir.’ President Trump offered to mediate the crisis. The New York Times Editorial Board implored the United Nations Security Council to ‘make clear that it opposes Mr. Modi’s brutal tightening of India’s control on Kashmir’,” it further read.
The report however suggested that US officials can play a constructive role in convincing their Indian counterparts to consider Kashmir peace talks as a viable strategy.
“India’s reputation has suffered in the past year. New Delhi’s cancellation of Kashmir’s special status in August 2019 and subsequent crackdown on an already highly militarized region sent shockwaves around the world. Despite being cut off from each other and the world, Kashmiris suddenly gained global attention and sympathy. As a Democratic contender, Biden asked the Indian government to ‘take all necessary steps to restore rights for all the people of Kashmir.’ President Trump offered to mediate the crisis. The New York Times Editorial Board implored the United Nations Security Council to ‘make clear that it opposes Mr. Modi’s brutal tightening of India’s control on Kashmir’,” it further read.
Biberman suggested that stabilizing Afghanistan and not resolving the Kashmir crisis could once again trigger Afghan and international militant relocation to Kashmir and also suggested that New Delhi should adopt confidence building measures that includes – restoring 4G internet services across the state, securing land and jobs for the locals, youth outreach initiatives, releasing those still detained under charges of stone pelting, and developing a surrender policy towards the militants instead of brutality.
“New Delhi would make progress with the political parties by softening its tone toward the mainstream Kashmiri politicians, releasing all political prisoners, disavowing patronage politics, and committing to a draft on future policy on Kashmir, which has been absent for the last several years,” the report read.
“A Kashmir peace deal is an opportunity for the United States to make clear its position on democracy and human rights. It would send a message to India and the rest of the world confronting the rise of authoritarianism about the distinctiveness and value of America’s global leadership,” Biberman wrote.
With inputs from a report by Free Press Kashmir