By Anwar Hashmi

Even after 57th year of independence, the fate of Kashmir is still ambivalent. The lurking uncertainty prevailing over the past many decades has made the lives of its inhabitants miserable. Despite being aware of the Indian atrocities in the Kashmir valley, the United Nation has miserably failed to take tangible measures in order to safeguard the rights of the people of Kashmir.

President Musharraf in a recently held press conference in India has suggested that 'Give and Take' policy should be adopted in this regard and both the countries should develop new political ties.

Over the decades, the expressions like 'Right to self determination' and Plebiscite according to the United Nation resolution have become rhetoric and have lost their significance. Present day solution voiced by may interested fronts have generated interest in the world comity.

Round 90, thousand people have been martyred in the valley during the last 15 years to get freedom from the Indian occupation. It is the core issue between India and Pakistan and four battles were fought that were instigated by it. The issue needs immediate attention of the UN and the world leaders in order to stop further killings of the innocent Kashmiris. In the backdrop of non execution of pending UN resolution, it seems that the effectiveness of the world body is questionable.

Under the present geo-political scenario, it seems that there is a ray of hope for this longstanding problem as the Pakistani and Indian leaders have been holding dialogues for this purpose. However, the recent outcome of the Indo-Pak dialogues reflects insincerity on the part of the Indians as they have not ceased the killings in Kashmir and deliberately putting the cord issue in cold storage.

Palestine

Though the Palestinian's struggle for a free homeland encompasses several decades, yet they have not lost hope yet. The atrocities committed by Israel against Palestinian people speak volume of the role of the international peace keeping forces. Millions have lost their lives and others have become homeless. Their present is in turmoil and their future bleak. Generations after generations are getting involved in their fight for emancipation for the clutches of foreign hands, with nothing to look forward. Nobody knows that for how long this thing will go on.

One needs to have little imagination of the trauma the common man will be going through. The disruption caused by war and insecurity in living day to day life is affecting the Palestinians not only physically but also psychologically. Men, women and children step out of the house doubting their return back. In such a scenario, one wonders about the availability of basic commodities to these people, let alone the right to education, hospitals etc. The miserable conditions under which the Palestinians are living in their own country for the past many decades have made them uncertain about their day to day existence and they cannot think about their various rights at the moment. Civil and political rights are non-existent in the country and at present, they are suppressed. Access to medical facilities among others is a foremost right of any individual but in a country that has been under siege for years is almost impossible. People die even before they can think of getting a medical assistance. Starvation has become a norm for them. Children are the worst silent sufferers. Their whole personality is being affected by the war. They are not normal carefree young children. They dread the sight of the uniformed personnel, thinking that he has come to kill them. Every now and then they witness house demolitions, killing of people, screaming of women and bombing. Children are termed as the future of a country, but one wonders what sort of a future these children have in a war struck country.

The need of the hour is that stringent steps should be taken to solve this conflict and also for the sake of safeguarding the future of these children.

Iraq

After having been through a war like scenario, Iraq is now an independent sovereign state and the new government has officially taken charge of the country. After the ouster of alleged dictator Saddam Hussein, the US and its allies have seemingly restored peace in the country and are helping the government to run the affairs of the country smoothly. For a common Iraqi, the quest for basic housing, shelter and food is the primary concern. They have a right to live a free life. Education, health, water supply, sanitation, and employment are also their areas of concern along with the freedom of expression. After being under fire for months, the Iraqis want to live peacefully and hope that the new government will be able to stabilise the country.

The most horrific outcome of the war was the shameful treatment of Iraqi prisoners. The US soldiers were shown not only beheading but using various torturing methods to the Iraqi prisoners on the electronic and print media. The repulsive pictures showed the US soldiers gloating over the dead bodies of the Iraqi prisoners. These pictures served as an eye opener for the world to see the inhuman behaviour of the so called civilised western super power, who are often heard as the champions of advocating human rights. The only question is that why such heinous crimes were permitted which took the lives of many Iraqi prisoners. It seemed like a war between the oppressor and the oppressed where the latter was denied the fundamental human rights. Now that the peace has been established and a bright future has been promised, it is expected that the Iraqis will lead a peaceful life.

Afghanistan

Just another country, under the siege, on the pretext of finding the outlaw Osama bin Laden from the rocky terrain. Months have passed and the US war on terror is still going on in the rugged area and Osama is still at large.

Everywhere one can see the demolished houses and dead bodies of innocent civilians who died from the carpet bombing of the US and its allies. By ousting the Taliban government, the US is advocating a more cooperative non-fundamental government of Hamid Karzai. By inviting allies for the reconstruction of Afghanistan, there is a ray of hope for the people of this country. It is also an indication that the Afghans will be able to resume their daily lives and the children will be able to attend the school. Women will be able to move freely in this set up as compared to the Taliban government. Suffering for more than two decades of oppression and fighting, now there is a possibility that the basic human rights of the Afghan people will be restored.

For a prosperous Afghanistan, a sustainable political government is needed which can safeguard the rights of its citizen and undertake various welfare projects without any apprehension. Afghans hope that the international community will help them in rebuilding their country and look forward to their financial support. For economic empowerment, Afghans need to enhance their trade and for that they need the professional and technical assistance of the international community. There is need to build up more schools, roads, hospitals and factories. Unemployment is the biggest insecurity of the Afghan people and due to that they are unable to educate themselves. Unless and until they have stable economy, it will be impossible for them to send their children to school. Girl child and women have a long way to go in getting economic and social emancipation. Their social fabric does not allow much freedom for their movement. It is hope that the new political set up is able to clear the various cobwebs from the minds of the Afghan people and lead them to prosperity.