Conflict taking toll on forces’ psyche as well: Mirwaiz

Srinagar, Mar 23: Hurriyat (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Friday said the prolonged Kashmir dispute, while killing and harassing youth, is also showing an adverse effect on the troopers stationed in the Valley.
Addressing the Friday congregational gathering at the Jamia Masjid, Mirwaiz said 700 forces personnel had committed suicide in the past six years due to mental stress and the hostile environment that they face in Kashmir.
“This indicates that the seven-decade long conflict is taking a toll not only on the psyche of the people of Kashmir who are suffering from various psychiatric disorders as a consequence of the conflict but also on their own forces personnel working under tremendous stress,” he said.
Mirwaiz said that announcements that plastic bullets will now be added to the lethal arsenal of forces who already use bullets, pellets, tear gas shells, pepper gas and chilly grenades will only increase the anger and hostility among Kashmiris.
“It is another indicator of how New Delhi views the problem and how it sees the people of Kashmir,” he said.
Mirwaiz said the recent statements by RSS and ministers in Government of India “make it clear that the New Delhi will continue with its stubborn and unrealistic policy in dealing with the Kashmir dispute militarily.”
“The recent statements from the leaders of Government of India that draconian AFSPA would continue to remain in place is a signal that Delhi wants to muzzle and crush the genuine Kashmir struggle with its military might,” he said.
Miwaiz said that adopting such an approach and looking at Kashmir through a “military prism is a big mistake that they are making as the history of peoples struggles for the realization of their political will can never be crushed through force and on the strength of military might”.
He said the natural outcome of repression is rebellion and resistance and the more New Delhi decides to deal with the situation on ground through repression the more people of Kashmir especially the youth will be forced to resist and rebel and sometimes unfortunately violently.
“Repression triggers further anger among the common masses,” he said.
He added that people of Kashmir and the resistance leadership have repeatedly been stating that Kashmir is a political and human issue which needs a political and humanistic approach in dealing with it both by Delhi and Islamabad and that the best way to resolve it is by implementing the UN resolutions on it.
“An alternative way is sustained and meaningful tripartite dialogue between India, Pakistan and the people of Kashmir, who are basic party to the dispute,” he said.
“The rigid policy of New Delhi is pushing Kashmir’s educated youth to wall and forcing them to choose armed means as a form of resistance against the forcible control which is extremely distressing and painful,” he added.
On the occasion Mirwaiz felicitated Pakistan on ‘Pakistan Day’, stating that it has been actively supporting Muslims across the globe in their genuine demands and has always been a great supporter to Kashmiris, on moral, and diplomatic front.
Mirwaiz prayed for Pakistan’s stability and hoped that the country would touch new heights in progress and development. Mirwaiz also hoped that Pakistan would intensify its efforts as a stakeholder to ensure vexed issue of Kashmir is resolved as per the wishes of people.