UN Is Responsible For Civilian Killings On LOC.

Punchline
The Bloody Line
By
Z. G. Muhammad

On 13 June 1990, when a sledgehammer for the first time hit the Berlin Wall to knock it down it brought warmth to the hearts Kashmiris. For heralding the end of the cold war for the world at large crumbling of the wall was significant. But, for people in Kashmir knocking down of the wall that had divided the Germany into the East Germany and the West Germany was symbolic and inspirational. It was symbolic, as people compared the construction of the Berlin Wall to the birth of the Cease Fire Line (CFL) that divided the State of Jammu and Kashmir into two parts in 1947. Moreover, for Kashmiris it was inspirational as it strengthened their belief, if the Berlin Wall could come a cropper, the Ceasefire Line rechristened as the LOC without international sanction is certainly going to disappear and uniting Kashmir as it existed on August 14, 1947.
The reasons for the birth of the Berlin Wall and the Ceasefire Line do have some semblance of resemblance in as much as they divided people of one state artificially- separated a brother from a brother and a mother from her daughter. Nevertheless, the two are not comparable when it comes to the tragedies that they brought to the people.
The mounting tension between the Allies and Soviets cause the construction of the Berlin Wall. It came into being ‘as the result of a decree passed on August 12 by the East German Peoples’ Chamber,’ and officially called “Anti-Fascist Protective Wall.” For restricting the movement of people the West Berlin city government sometimes referred to it as the “Wall of Shame.” “Between 1961 and 1989, around 5,000 people attempted to escape over the Wall, with an estimated death toll ranging from 136 to 200 in and around Berlin.” True, even death of one person is a loss to humanity and condemnable but as compared to the human lives consumed both civilians and military by the Cease Fire Line these are not even a drop in the ocean. There is no data available about people killed in the exchange of fire and landmines since 1948, but undoubtedly tens of thousands of civilians have been killed and disabled for life.
The Ceasefire Line as against Berlin Wall was not born because of Maharaja Hari Singh, passing a proclamation. It did not come into being for the first Governor Generals of newly born dominions reaching an agreement on November 1, 1947, in Lahore during their discussions over the modus operandi for holding a referendum in Jammu and Kashmir for deciding the future of the State. The two had met four days after troops from New Delhi had been airlifted to Srinagar. It was not the outcome of the talks between Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan for final disposition of the State. The fact of the matter is that it was born on the floor of the United Nations Security Council as a temporary measure for bringing peace between the warring countries. And also for enabling it conducting an impartial plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir for deciding the future of the State. Thus by all norms, it was an international agreement to be respected by both the countries.
First, India brought the issue before the United Nations. Leaders in New Delhi from the outset believed that with Sheikh Abdullah standing with them their case was so good that ‘what the United Nations ought to do was to hand over the state lock, stock, and barrel to their country.’ It did not happen, instead, ‘the United Commission for India and Pakistan was created to go to the sub-continent, investigate on the spot then report back to the Security Council.’ Both the UNCIP and Security Council adopted the resolutions of 1948 and 1949. These resolutions, despite the scepticism of some friends to this date, continue to be the jugular vein of the Kashmir narrative- and resonate in the United Nations. The United Nations Military Observers Group (UNMOGIP) was placed on both the sides of the line to ensure implementation of the ceasefire agreement signed by the Generals of India and Pakistan on January 1, 1949. Tragically, the temporary Ceasefire Line, whatever nomenclature is given to it instead of being a step towards the resolution of the dispute has become a dangerous flashpoint that could trigger a nuclear war in the region. In reality, the CFL has become the bloody line that has been continuously devouring civilians and men from both the sides of the line. Death, maiming, and catastrophes for over two million people living along the 800 kilometers long line are just firing a bullet away from either side. As if the blood spilled on the streets of Kashmir during past three months was not enough that once again in the exchange of fire between armies of India and Pakistan scores of civilians including on both the side of the Line are getting killed on a daily basis. Something that people of the state have been yearning never to happen.
In this column, I do not intend to go into details why and how United Nations has so far failed to implement the resolutions adopted by it in 1948 and 1949. But, to state that with its Military Observers stationed on both the sides of the CFL-mandated to ensure peace, the UN cannot escape responsibility for the killings of innocent civilians living along the LOC and the Working Boundary. Instead of issuing ritualistic statements and asking Islamabad and New Delhi for restraint, it needs to do the mandated job to ensure peace along the LOC and not leave it to Washington for nudging the two countries to de-escalate tension on the dividing line.
The fact remains it has been the USA nudging that has prevented ceasefire violation escalating into a war more than once. Ensuring, peace along the LOC and giving some respite to people living along the LOC is not difficult. If in 2003, despite military standoff during 2001-2002 the two countries could agree on ceasefire agreement why cannot they do it today? This Ceasefire agreement that survived many highs and lows in the relations between two countries had come as a big relief for a decade to people living along the LOC. The new UN Secretary General needs to rise to the occasion, ensure people along the LOC do not get killed in exchanges of heavy fire between India and Pakistan.
7 November 2016 published in GK