Spotlighting Kashmir during Obama’s Visit
By Naveed Khan
San Jose , CA
There is perhaps only one country that can influence India to grant freedom to the people of Kashmir, and that is USA. The s trategic alliance between the two countries is going from strength to strength and India increasingly looks towards the USA to meet its defense and energy needs.
The USA needs India on the UNSC as a permanent member to bolster its waning political and economic influence. President Obama is aware of the Kashmir dispute. He is cognizant that it is the only destabilizing factor in South Asia. He also knows that the Kashmir dispute impedes a decisive USA/NATO victory against the Taliban and Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan that may enable him to withdraw USA troops. He needs some semblance of victory in Afghanistan to salvage his Presidency and be a credible contender for the 2012 elections.
He frequently mentioned Kashmir when he was contesting elections but stopped talking about it after assuming office. He has empathy for the people of Kashmir, he can project their point of view to India. He would not do that in public because it causes a rift in the USA-India relationship. President Obama has every incentive to push for the resolution of Kashmir dispute.
At present, despite growing civil disobedience in the Kashmir Valley, there is global apathy towards the dispute and the Kashmiri cause. International media, human rights activists and analysts have paid scant attention to the protests while the Indian media has been clamped down. As a result no significant pictures and videos have emerged of the demonstration and protests through out the valley. Kashmir has been under stifling constraints for last four months with choking curfews and military repression of the unarmed people. Kashmir people need a mechanism to attain global attention and President Obama's India visit presents such an opportunity.
There is an opportunity for Kashmiris and Pakistanis to let their point of view be known to Mr. Obama as he visits India in November. I urge all of Kashmir to observe total strike on the 2nd day of his visit to India. Everything should be closed on the call of the Hurriyet Conference. Pakistanis should take out large processions in all big cities to express solidarity with the Kashmiris. Kashmir leaders should request a meeting with Mr. Obama during his visit.
President Obama's presence in India is a historic opportunity for the Kashmir people to gain spotlight.
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