Counter Response to ISKP’s approach to Indian Occupied Kashmir
ISKP: A tool for delegitimizing the legitimate freedom struggle
There is no denying the fact that the once serene and harmonious valley of Kashmir, which epitomized peace and inter-religious unity, is now a stark contrast to its former self. This transformation is largely attributed to the sharp rise of the far-right Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in India. Under the leadership of Narendra Modi, the situation for Muslims in Indian-Occupied Kashmir has reached unprecedented levels of distress. The Indian government’s policies have not only exacerbated the plight of the Kashmiri Muslims but have also fueled hostility against them. Daily life in Kashmir now involves the constant threat of arrest, extrajudicial killings, and the deprivation of fundamental rights such as freedom of movement, property ownership, and personal dignity.
If we look back at the historical context, we find that the situation began to shift significantly after the Soviet forces withdrew from the region. Their departure created a vacuum that allowed the Mujahideen to rise up, ostensibly to protect the honor of the Kashmiri people, especially women and children. Yet, this struggle faced severe complications with the emergence of the Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP) — a terrorist group currently active in Afghanistan and the broader South-Asia region. The ISKP’s brutal tactics, including beheadings, immolations, and the amputation of limbs, created a crisis of legitimacy for the Kashmiri fighters. Such tactics were completely against the Quranic orders and the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). As Allah has said in Quran that “Do not kill a soul which Allah has made sacred”. Once seen as symbols of resistance, the Kashmiri Mujahideen were now viewed with increasing suspicion and fear, as the ISKP’s extreme violence in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, and surrounding areas led to a generalized mistrust of other legitimate indigenous resistance movements.
The situation took a further turn when the ISKP expressed its support for the Kashmiri freedom struggle. This endorsement, rather than helping the cause, proved to be a strategic trap. The Indian government seized this opportunity to intensify its security operations in the Kashmir Valley. Under the pretext of combating terrorism, the Indian authorities launched an aggressive crackdown, targeting not only the groups who were striving to get the right of self-determination but also civilians who were involved in or supportive of the liberation movement. This included women, children, and the elderly, who faced arrest, torture, and other forms of repression. The Western governments, aligning with the Indian narrative, began to label the legitimate Kashmiri freedom struggle as a terrorist movement. This shift in perception was a direct consequence of ISKP’s support, which the Indian government used to justify its increased military presence and suppression of the liberation movement. The West’s endorsement of this view further isolated the Kashmiri struggle and undermined their cause.
The actual demonstration of the strategic trap is now quite notable in ISKP’s propaganda publications. After voicing the support for the Kashmiri liberation movement, now ISKP accuses the movement and its supporters of being agents of Pakistani intelligence, supporters of democracy, allies of communists, and enemies of Islam. This branding further discredits the Kashmiri struggle and justifies the Indian government’s harsh measures.
If one connects the dots, ISKP’s rise, its vocal support for the indigenous liberation movement and later on opposition to it, suggests a deliberate plan to weaken and destabilize the only significant indigenous Muslim-led liberation effort in the region. By inciting violence and simultaneously labeling the resistance as foreign, democratic, or communist agents, the ISKP and its backers played a crucial role in undermining the credibility and effectiveness of the Kashmiri struggle. This strategic manipulation appears to be part of a broader pattern seen in other conflict zones such as Syria, Iraq, and Yemen. In these contexts, similar tactics have been employed to weaken and fracture indigenous resistance movements, thereby facilitating the broader geopolitical agendas of external powers and their allies. The Kashmiri situation is no exception; it is a microcosm of a larger strategy aimed at diminishing the strength and unity of Muslim liberation movements globally.
ISKP projected itself as the helpers and sympathizers of Kashmiri caused huge damage to the indigenous struggle but they helped their true patrons in achieving their geopolitical agenda. As US wanted China to get weaken, therefore it helped India in Kashmir so that India can help US against China and in this geopolitical complex web of interests, ISKP played a role of proxy and lied to its supporters. The true believers never go against the orders of Allah who clearly stated in Quran that “O you who believe, who do you say those things which you don’t practice.” May God help us to understand the true enemies of Islam.