Kashmir Elections Bring Mixed Emotions And More Political Turmoil
Kashmiri Women waiting in line to be able to vote for the first time in 10 years. Source: PBS
On September 25th, Kashmir residents waited in line outside gender segregated poll stations as they voted in the second phase of their local elections. 9 million registered voters are voting in the region's first election since 2014 for the 90-seat regional legislature in Kashmir. The third round of voting will occur on October 1st, with the final results announced on October 8th. Foreign diplomats from various countries were allowed to observe the election at India’s invitation.
This election is a significant step toward enhancing regional stability. India believes that they deserve full control over the region because after British forces left, Kashmir was given to India. India then allowed Kashmir to operate as a partially self-governing area. In 2019, however, Prime Minister Narendra Modi eliminated Kashmir’s semi-autonomous status. The Indian Supreme Court supported the government’s actions, but demanded that there be democratic elections. Elections would have taken place the following year if not for the COVID-19 pandemic and another series of violent airstrikes over the border lines between Pakistan and India. Since elections were stalled, Kashmir was led by a governor appointed by India.
The new government would gain some control of the region, such as regulating educational standards and taxation. However, Indian officials would still command the police in the area. In order for Kashmir to fully govern the region, India would have to reinstate Article 370, granting statehood for Kashmir, which was suspended by Prime Minister Modi in the 2019 decision. Article 370 also allows Kashmir to create their own constitution, laws, and foreign policies decisions, which their newly created government would not be able to enact unless Article 370 was reinstated.
Modi’s government guaranteed a restoration of semi-autonomous status after the election, but Kashmir residents are still skeptical. The cynicism is pervasive across the region, with many residents doubting that the elections will be fair or bring any real change to the conflict. Rafiq Ahmed, a taxi driver, explained “We need some relief and end of bureaucratic rule here.” After years of seemingly persistent conflict, between the Indian government and local Kashmiri leaders, residents are questioning their own expectations for a different outcome this time.
For example, Sheikh Abdul Rashid, a parliament candidate, echoed these sentiments within his campaign. Rashid was arrested in 2019 for terror funding charges, which he denies. Many of his followers also believe that his jail sentence correlates with the abolishment of Article 370. However, the courts have allowed an interim bail so that he is able to campaign. Rashid’s platform is based on his disdain for the Indian government's invasive policies in Kashmir. His popularity concerns his opponents, who are employing a strategy to associate him with Prime Minister Modi's party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Rashid’s release from jail to campaign does nothing to ease these allegations.
Political tensions in Kashmir are not new; India and Pakistan have been battling for full control over the region since 1947. The hostility rose most recently when Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif spoke at the UN General Assembly denouncing India's military for terrorizing the innocent civilians in Kashmir. Sharif then reassured the UN and the global community that “Pakistan will respond most decisively to any Indian aggression.”
Kashmir is one of the most militarized regions in the world, meaning these accusations are unsurprising. Indian soldiers engaging in violent acts against Kashmiri residents attempting to defend themselves has resulted in significant escalation of violence in the region, including the deaths of soldiers and innocent civilians.
There are significant stakes associated with this election, especially about the civil liberties of Kashmiri residents, such as freedom of speech. Millions are heading to the polls, expecting to elect a government that will finally speak on their behalf. Kashmiri voters’ commitment to democracy and justice is honorable, regardless of the outcome. Undoubtedly, Kashmir will have the attention of the international community, and hopefully, a stable new government.