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https://theconversation.com/kashmir-attacks-kashmiris-trapped-between-tourism-and-terrorism-as-an-insecure-nation-looks-to-modi-for-accountability-255148>
"The horrific targeted attack by militants in Kashmir on April 22, which killed
at least 25 Indian tourists and one Nepalese national and injured many more,
bears all the hallmarks of terrorism. The timing of the attacks during the
high-profile visit of the US vice-president J.D. Vance to India, highlights
that this was calculated to achieve maximum impact.
The attack came at the beginning of the peak tourist season, right before a
major annual Hindu Amarnath Yatra pilgrimage that attracts thousands each year.
It also happened soon after provocative statements from Pakistan’s military
chief, Asim Munir. In a recent speech, Munir said: “No power in the world can
separate Kashmir from Pakistan. Kashmir is Pakistan’s jugular vein.”
The attack was made by gunmen who identified Hindu men by demanding they recite
verses from the Qur'an before killing them, while sparing women and children.
Kashmir is a site of multiple competing claims, entrenched conflict and intense
militarisation. The political dispute has further been used to divide Kashmiris
along religious lines, resulting in a discourse of competing victimhoods
between Kashmiri Muslims and Kashmiri Hindus.
Against the backdrop of already normalised Islamophobia in India, such an
attack creates greater prospects for repression and violence against Muslims.
The reaction in the Indian media has followed a predictable script. Amid the
Hindutva (Hindu nationalist) ratcheting up of anti-Muslim sentiment in the
country, some people took to social media to demand the annexation of Pakistan
Administered Kashmir (known as “PoK” – or Pakistan Occupied Kashmir by many in
India). Kashmiri Muslims in India are reportedly now facing Hindutva groups
threatening to target them.
Hindu majoritarianism in India has long relied on constructing a narrative of
the beleaguered majority under attack from a Muslim minority. So this attack
becomes part of a selectively retold and lengthy history where Muslims have
always been aggressors and Hindus always victims.
Indian Muslims then often have to prove their patriotism. A Muslim member of
India’s Congress Party even called for the Pakistani city of Rawalpindi to be
“flattened”.
India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, held an emergency meeeting of the
(all-male) security cabinet and immediate measures were announced after the
meeting included a condemnation of Pakistan for encouraging “cross-border
terrorism”. Barely a day later, he is already on the campaign trail in the
Indian state of Bihar for the upcoming elections there.
There is a continuing clamour on social media for cross-border military strikes
and a desire to go after Pakistan (#AvengePahalgam). These two countries have a
long history of conflict. With an ongoing spiral of tit-for-tat responses, a
de-escalation cannot be guaranteed and a more general irrational miscalculation
between the nuclear-armed neighbours cannot be ruled out."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
