Why didn’t Kashmiri Pandits’s fight back terrorists in 1990 and instead
left Kashmir?
Kashmiri Pandits’s often get
asked why we left Kashmir without a fight in 1990.
Instead of giving any justifications,
I am presenting data on ground reality.
Some quick facts before
presenting data:-
1. There are 3
provinces in Jammu & Kashmir namely Jammu Province, Kashmir Province &
Ladakh Province. These provinces are topologically, demographically &
culturally cut off from each other. Even languages spoken in each province is
radically different.
2.
Unlike
minorities elsewhere KP’s didn’t live in exclusive KP colonies and were
scattered across length and breadth of Kashmir province
3.
1990 wasn’t
the 1st attack on Kashmiri Pandits. Kashmiri Hindus has been under
constant attack of Jihadis since 13 C AD without any respite. It is resilience of
Kashmiri Pandits, that they defended & survived countless massacres in Kashmir.
Prelude to 1990 was 1986 when Kashmiri Muslims started wholesale attacks on Kashmiri Pandits, but Kashmiri Pandits held their ground. 1990 was different
because due to unlimited supply of modern weapons, training and countless Mujaheddin
from Afghanistan and Pakistan in hands
of Kashmiri JIhadis it was impossible for a common Kashmiri Pandit to defend.
4.
People who
ask why we didn’t pick guns, don't understand it is incumbent on defence services
(Army, Police, and Paramilitary) to protect civilians under threat. Part of our
taxes go for upkeep of defence forces and courts etc. If a civilian is expect to
protect themselves from massive offensive by terrorists and their supporters,
remove taxes, abolish weapon licenses and let private companies open arms
training camps.
Demographic & economic data of Kashmir ( Observe KP's were 2.45% minority)
| Facts in numbers ( 1990) | Muslims | Hindus |
|---|---|---|
| Total Population of J&K ( Jammu, Kashmir & Ladakh province) | 68.31% | 28.43% |
| Population of Kashmir Province | 96.40% | 2.45% |
| Representation in J&K Govt. | 95% | 0.50% |
| Representation in J&K bureaucracy | 90% | 4% |
| Economically very strong ( Super rich) | 4% | 0.00% |
| Economically strong ( Rich) | 10% | 0.00% |
| Middle class | 30% | 20% |
| Lower Middle Class | 40% | 60% |
| Poor | 16% | ~20% |
Comparison of Resources to fight an effective defense
| Parameter to fight | KP's Situation | Enemy/ perpetrator Advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Demographic spread | 3% were spread across length & breadth of Kashmir | 95% majority were supporting terrorism in one way or another. |
| Hideouts | Due to think spread, hideouts after any action was impossible | 95% spread were always used as effective hideout and for hiding or smuggling arms & militants |
| Training & training camps | None existed | POK & Pakistan opened numerous weapons training camps on its soil to train jihadis. Besides, battle hardened Mujahedeen's from Afghanistan were routed inside Kashmir territory by ISI to fight alongside and train Jihadis in kashmir |
| Funds | None existed. Do look at table above for economic condition of KP's | Besides funds from mosques, ISI & Arab countries funnelled |
| Arms & arm suppliers | No source existed. | Unlimited supply of state of art arms like AK47, AK56, Grenades, Landmines etc were smuggled from Pakistan, Afganistan & china. |
| Support system for family of Militants | None existed. | Network of mosques, NGO's and Hawala operators ensure that family of Militant is sufficiently funded to avoid any economic impact on them |
| Govt Support | Central & state government remained mute spectators. In fact Army, Paramilitary & police were ordered to retreat to barracks, thus giving free hand to Jihadis | Central & State government remained mute spectator to cross border movement of terrorists, weapons and currency smuggling by Jihadi between 1986 to 1993 |
| Outside Support | No Hindu group provided either tactical support, training, funds or weapon | Islamists worldwide including ISIS, Arab countries, Islamists from central Asia, Europe and America opened to coffers to fund arms, training and compensation to Jihadis and their families |