Kashmir Can Sustain Its Independence!!!

Kashmir Can Sustain Its Independence!!!

I am not sowing a new idea. It was always there. I am just reacting to the fears and apprehensions expressed in several blog entries, newspapers, and discussion boards over the improbability of Kashmir sustaining its independence from India.

Now that Indian literati have realized that Kashmir is serious about its independence from India, what they try is to baffle rather swank that Independent Kashmir would survive for just 15 minutes. Since they are ‘worried’ more than Kashmiris about how it can sustain its sovereignty especially without the tax payers of India, a clarification as a Kashmiri becomes urgent.

When some of the Balkans, Central Asian countries, Caucasus, Eastern European and all of the Baltic countries could survive after gaining independence from former Russia, why can’t Kashmir. Right now, most all of these countries, have their GDP per capita tremendously increasing and six times more than India or for that matter Pakistan.

Baltic countries like Estonia Latvia and Lithuania were not much developed than what Kashmir is now, but after liberation, things changed. Even Caucasus countries like Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia have become more developed and industrial than they were with second world power of those days (USSR).

Notice the eastern European states Belarus Moldova and Ukraine; they are happier than they were ever before. And sustaining their independence!!

Disintegration never ever means economic deprivation and collapse, and in case of Kashmir, it will prosper like anything. Things would be difficult in first three-four years, but after that, Kashmir would come into flower.

Only its hydro electricity can turn it into a Singapore. Its wildlife, forests and diverse landscape can open floodgates of money.

Kashmir’s climate and fresh atmosphere is exactly what BPOs and MNCs need. In Baltic countries, many MNCs are opening their offices—and that has reduced the number of its unemployed youth moving in to UK or US for jobs.

Kashmir’s pastures can turn it into a heaven for milk production and cattle rearing. Currently 70 percent of all pastures are under the activity of army. And 80 lakh sheep are imported from outside states. With its own pastures, it would save 1600 crores of money spent on importing livestock.

Kashmir’ soil is very much fertile, and the sectors of agriculture, horticulture, floriculture are yet to be fully exploited.

In the Agriculture and Horticulture sectors, Kashmir can base a big industry. Even processing of fruits could be a separate industry. For example, in foreign nations, apple is grown at 50 metric ton on a hectare of land. However, here in Kashmir, it is just lingering on 10.5 metric ton per hectare. If Kashmir starts to produce 50 metric tons; there will be huge exports. Right now the apple industry is worth Rs 2500 crores and if technology is involved apples can produced 5 times more than this figure. And a part of it can be used for processing.

Likewise Kashmir’s vegetables industry is going great. From the last three years, vegetables are being grown at large scale, so much, that a huge quantity is being exporting it .Kashmir can produce more than what it is producing now and can flood its immediate regions with fresh vegetables.

Recently florists’ organization in Kashmir said that the valley can overtake countries like Holland which is sitting on the world’s 93 percent of the commercial flowers revenue. They said that the climate, fertile soil and geography is fit for producing fresh flowers thereby ending the hegemony of Holland in this sector. Commercial flowers contribute to Holland’s 95 percent of economy. And Kashmir could become the next Holland. There is a season in Holland when they don’t grow some flowers while as in Kashmir those are grown and are in demand across European and US markets. These flowers are quite expensive and Kashmir can replace Holland by chipping in and exploiting the timing.

The horticulture department, few months back, released figures about walnut production saying that 1 lakh metric ton walnuts are being produced every year. But it can be increased. By planting walnut trees on the forest land where there are no trees, Kashmir can have promising harvests. Of 22,000 sq Km of forest land, 11 percent area is lush while as rest of the area is barren where walnuts can be grown. Estimates say that Kashmir can raise the existing figure of walnut production to 10 lakh metric tons. Kashmiri walnuts, no doubt, have a competition from Chinese walnuts. But Kashmir walnuts are preferred in foreign markets.

Then Kashmir has a huge mineral-based potential resource sectors. You name any mineral, it is available here. Kashmir has a got a huge limestone deposits. Right now only 0.03 percent of these deposits are being exploited and only from that 8 lakh metric tons of cement is being produced. Just raising that level to 0.5 percent would mean generating revenue of 2500 crores.

Likewise huge deposits of gypsum, bauxite and quartzite have not been explored. In Kashmir’s Kupwara we have a marble mine of 45 million cubic meter. And that marble is considered best than its Italian counterpart. Kashmir has 50 million cubic metres of granite mines in bountiful Sonamarg and beyond. Borax, blue sapphire-- which is priceless and several other minerals are yet to be prospected. Currently only 0.05 percent of Kashmir’s total mineral wealth is being utilized, if the level is raised to only 2 percent, Kashmir would witness a renaissance.

Talking about huge Knowledge-based potential sectors, it is crucial to mention that when the IT boom was going across India, Kashmir was in turmoil. All European and US companies had first agreed to establish their bases in the Valley because of the suitable climate, but then, conflict pushed them for other options in South India. But still there is a big space available and we can exploit it fully. Financial service centre is the evolving concept. Here Kashmir cannot afford to miss that as it had come in the same way as IT did.

Remember 1 lakh crore industry within next 20 years is waiting for Kashmir. But it all depends how things are allowed to happen.

Kashmir is best known for its silk, saffron, honey, medicinal herbs that are to be explored. Leave aside, handicraft, woodcarving and other sectors, imagine what if Kashmir explores all of its mountains, harvest rainwater, start mountaineering expeditions, and water boat safaris ( just like Sweden, Norway, Austria, Hungary)  at large scale levels, export timber, initiate wildlife safaris, and improve fish nurturing.

The world knows what sort of potential Kashmir has in Tourism sector. Despite conflict, tourist economy has been incredible and once the conflict ends, one can calculate the economy of state and 1/3 of Kashmiri population that is directly or indirectly linked with tourism trade.

Kashmir’s water resources are its biggest possessions. And because the 1960 India-Pakistan Indus Waters Treaty is regarded as "the worst thing to have happened to the state of Jammu and Kashmiri, under which, India has all the rights of water utilization of three rivers - Ravi, Beas and Satluj - while Pakistan has rights over three other rivers - Chenab, Jhelum and Indus - all of which flow through Jammu and Kashmir, Kashmir would certainly charge both the countries for its waters and again millions of dollars it can bank.

Kashmir would also like to seek compensation for water and electricity all these decades India and Pakistan have used. Probably at the later stages, it will be exactly the replica of how Israel drew reparations from present Germany for the atrocities their ancestors suffered from the Hitler’s era Germany.  However, Kashmir can also absolve them both.

Now that every independence sustaining efforts mentioned, what actually is needed is the sincerity on the part of India that is forcibly ruling Kashmir. Remember former Pakistan President Mushraff had offered in 2007 to pull back its troops from its controlled Kashmir provided India follow suit. However, India, which is now stressing on the conditions of plebiscite, did not respond to Mushraff’s calls.  It could have simply turned Kashmir as a link not only between Pak and India, but also with China and Afghanistan.

Before or immediately after the 1990’s, Kashmir never ever witnessed million strong protest rallies. Which indicates that despite pumping huge money into the valley, raising education standards, so-called globalizing it and all that, the aspirations have remained same; rather Kashmiris have realized where they have to head for. India has been simply abortive in buying the common aspirations.

Suggestions:

The tax payers should rather ask their leaders, whom they select in elections, to channelize their money in the care of farmers and weavers who are committing suicide in Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, on illiteracy, disaster hit areas and road building across India. They can ask them to reduce India’s defense budgets by solving Kashmir imbroglio. A Chapaati costs Rs 500 at Siachen peaks. No doubt an Indian taxpayer can afford it who sleeps in the airconditioned room somewhere in Mumbai skyscrapers, but there are millions in India who have only one time meal to eat and rat- packed streets to sleep.

India tax payers might say that their sweat is being used for Kashmir’s welfare, but what about the sweat that has gone into the spendings on army for six long decades. The results are actually surprising to all which Indian authors too realized lately. Notwithstanding huge spendings on army, nowhere has been army successful in suppressing Kashmiris. Instead, their presence has fomented the lava of dissent that has been accruing in the vale since long. We have a 28-year-0ld Indian army Captian claiming it before BBC’s George Arney who recently traveled to Kashmir to speak to young people to find out what they want and how they view India.

Myths Exploded:

That Kashmir lives on these taxes is a fable always used to bully Kashmiris. Kashmir’s 88 percent of electricity is transported to outside states. Kashmir is using only 12 percent of its electricity that too on higher rates. Because the electricity is first guided out towards Northern grid. Then it is pumped back with additional charges lagaaned.

Kashmir lightens some parts of North India and if India spends something back here, it is doing no act of kindness. Because Kashmir too is spending billions in the form of electricity, that India squeeze’s out. Of Rs 1 India spends on Kashmir, it obtains Rs 14 as profit.

Kashmir rears almost two lakh migrant labourers, mostly from Bihar and UP. The money they make here in Kashmir can be consumed by the local work force who is sitting idle. While they are being killed in Maharashtra and elsewhere, Kashmir always proved Dubai for them.

Threats from other countries:

When the Kashmir issue will be resolved, there will be nothing to fear from Pak, India or China. Possibly, Kashmiri people could ask for UN troop presence and Kosovo-like support until Kashmir recover from the losses it has incurred from the past 62 years of turmoil.

So many small countries are living in the lap of other giants, but they act as buffer zones rather than colonies. Taiwan, East Timor, Bhutan, and again Balkans, Kosovo, Kuwait should serve as an example.

Even South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

It is a fairy-tale that independent Kashmir will not survive. Let believers of such theory ask questions to themselves and India show sincerity and give it a try.