Opinion | How Pakistan and Its Media Is Misleading Youth Of Kashmir

Since its inception, Pakistan has relentlessly pursued the dissemination of terrorism in Kashmir, attempting to misguide the youth. However, the resilient people of Kashmir have consistently rejected this nefarious agenda, both in the past and present, and will continue to do so steadfastly. Our rejection of such terrorism dates back to the era of the Kabali raiders, who brought devastation upon our land, committing atrocities that scarred our communities. In response, we defiantly proclaimed, “Hamla Awar Khabardar Hum Kashmiri Hai Tayar” (Beware, we Kashmiris are ready to defend ourselves).
Despite the persistent efforts of Pakistan’s terroristic agenda in Kashmir, our collective resolve has weakened their grip on our region in recent years. However, remnants of their influence continue to target ordinary Kashmiris who dare to speak out against them, expose their false propaganda, and resist their unsympathetic agenda for Kashmir. As their presence diminishes in the valley, they have resorted to exploiting the virtual realm of social media and journalism to perpetuate their sinister brand of terrorism and mislead the youth of Kashmir.
It is well-known that there are individuals in Pakistan whose livelihoods thrive on the bloodshed and instability in Kashmir. When one’s means of earning sustenance are threatened, they will inevitably seek alternative avenues to secure their livelihood. A stark example of this exploitative tactic occurred not long ago when Ahmed Qureshi orchestrated an incident involving Yasin Malik’s daughter in Muzaffarabad. This young girl, barely 11 years old, was manipulated into speaking words scripted by Qureshi, showcasing the depths to which they are willing to stoop in their pursuit of vested interests. Such callous exploitation of Kashmiri children for their agenda is a testament to their lack of genuine sympathy for our plight.
Prior to 1990, while other parts of India grappled with internal conflicts, Kashmir remained relatively stable and peaceful. However, Pakistan consistently sought to destabilize the region. The video featuring Yasin Malik’s 11-year-old daughter was shamelessly used by Pakistani media to further their false propaganda. They portrayed Razia Sultana as a courageous voice while conveniently ignoring the atrocities committed by her father against innocent Kashmiris. Media outlets lacked the courage to expose Yasin Malik’s role in the killings of numerous innocent Kashmiris and his culpability in the exodus and genocide of hundreds of thousands of Kashmiri Pandits.

Between 2013 and 2017, Pakistan shamelessly manipulated Kashmiri youth, exploiting their vulnerability to propagate their agenda. Many young individuals, after taking up arms, were coerced into creating videos that were then disseminated through Pakistani networks on social media. One prominent figure used as a pawn during this period was Burhan Muzzafar Wani, a terrorist commander affiliated with Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. In his initial video appearance, Wani was depicted alongside eleven other terrorists from the same organization, all clad in army-style combat attire, posing for the camera with smiles adorning their faces, Wani positioned prominently at the center.
Recognizing the potential media frenzy, terrorist organizations based in Pakistan enthusiastically endorsed the exploitation of such videos. These videos, filmed in the forests of Kashmir, were swiftly transmitted to Pakistan, where they were uploaded and broadcasted across Pakistani media channels and Twitter handles, amplifying their false propaganda. The active involvement of Pakistani media in disseminating such propaganda and misleading the youth of Kashmir is evident through these manipulative tactics.

What Pakistani has snatched from Kashmiris?
Pakistan has inflicted immeasurable suffering upon us, robbing us of our smiles, perpetrating atrocities against our mothers and sisters, and ruthlessly eliminating our peace activists and writers. They have left many parents bereaved of their sons, armed our youth with guns, decimated our tourism sector, and orchestrated targeted killings of politicians who dared to oppose their deceitful propaganda. Despite these adversities, following the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, Kashmir has witnessed a semblance of peace, progress, and prosperity.
However, there remains a segment of individuals whose livelihoods are intricately tied to our instability, relentlessly striving to reignite conflict and prolong the suffering of Kashmiris. These individuals, alongside certain media channels in Pakistan and social media handles, portray such heinous acts as ‘Jihad,’ blatantly distorting the principles of Islam. We must question their interpretation of ‘Jihad’ when it involves orphaning children, perpetrating acts of rape, and committing other barbaric atrocities.
We demand answers from those who orchestrated the murders of prominent figures like Mirwaiz Farooq, Ab Gani Lone, Shujaat Bukhari, the wife of Mohammad Yusuf Shah of Kupwara, BSNL engineer B.K. Ganjoo, NC’s Mushtaq Wani, and the recent tragic killings of our Sikh brothers in Srinagar. Their actions have inflicted untold suffering upon the majority of Kashmiris, yet we steadfastly reject their false propaganda and vow to resist their nefarious agenda indefinitely.
I earnestly appeal to the writers, activists, and fellow Kashmiris of our valley to unite and challenge the false narrative propagated by Pakistan and its media, claiming that Kashmiris stand in solidarity with them. It is imperative that we mobilize ourselves and raise awareness about how Pakistan has misled us, leading to the loss of countless lives. We cannot allow another mother to mourn the loss of her son to Pakistan’s sinister brand of terrorism.
We must make it known that Pakistan will provide guns, uniforms, and take photos and videos of us, all to serve their own interests, with no regard for our lives. They are indifferent to whether we live or die; once they have exploited us for what they can sell in the international market, they discard us. For years, they have profited from our bloodshed.
Contrastingly, it is the Indian Army that, even during encounters, offers a chance for militants to surrender and rebuild their lives. They extend a hand of reconciliation, offering a path back to their families. Unfortunately, few seize this opportunity, as Pakistani terrorists often target surrendered militants, visiting their homes and ending their lives. As a community, we must remain vigilant, and it falls upon activists and writers to vehemently speak out against this ominous terrorism. We must reject this narrative and work towards a future free from the grip of Pakistan’s manipulation.

The Writer is a student activist and can be reached at soulofkashmir1@gmail.com

The views expressed in the piece are the writer’s personal opinions. Global Kashmir News does not endorse any individual’s personal viewpoint.