By Farooq Ganderbali
Pakistan cannot speak about peace and the “common challenge” of terrorism while the people of Jammu & Kashmir continue to remember the devastating human cost of violence, extremism and cross-border terrorism. If Islamabad is serious about peace, it must move beyond statements and take decisive action against terrorism, radicalisation and the propaganda that fuels hatred.Pakistan’s recent acknowledgement of India’s participation in the 46th meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (SCO-RATS) in Islamabad deserves attention. Pakistan’s Foreign Office said India’s participation should continue because peace, security and the fight against terrorism are a “common challenge” for both countries.
If Pakistan genuinely believes that terrorism is a common challenge, it must also recognise the painful reality that the people of Jammu & Kashmir have suffered for decades from violence, extremism, radicalisation and propaganda.The history of Jammu & Kashmir cannot be reduced to slogans and political propaganda. The region witnessed armed invasion and communal violence in the turbulent period following Partition in 1947, and decades of conflict subsequently brought enormous suffering to ordinary people.
From the late 1980s onward, terrorism transformed the lives of thousands of families. Religious scholars, political workers, women, businessmen, security personnel and young people became victims of violence. Kashmiri Pandits were driven from their homes, while Kashmiri Muslims also suffered enormously from terrorism and radicalisation. The greatest tragedy was that an entire generation grew up amid fear, violence and uncertainty.Pakistan has repeatedly rejected India’s allegations concerning support for terrorism. At the same time, India has consistently accused Pakistan of supporting cross-border terrorism in Jammu & Kashmir. These competing claims remain part of the wider India-Pakistan dispute. But whatever the political arguments, one principle should be beyond dispute: terrorism against civilians can never be justified.
Religious faith must never be turned into a weapon of political violence. Kashmir’s centuries-old traditions of Sufism, Rishi culture, tolerance and brotherhood represent a very different vision—one in which communities live together with dignity and respect.The people of Jammu & Kashmir deserve schools, hospitals, universities, employment, tourism, sports and peaceful lives. They do not need radicalisation, terrorist recruitment or propaganda that teaches young people to hate their neighbours.
Kashmir needs peace, not proxy conflict; schools, not terror camps; employment, not radicalisation; and development, not propaganda.Pakistan should match its words with action. If it truly considers terrorism a common challenge, it should work with India and the international community to eliminate the networks and narratives that sustain violence.The time has come to choose people over proxies, development over destruction, and peace over terrorism.