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| India-Pakistan |
| Kashmir’s dirty little secret |
| 2003-06-03 |
| EFL Thirteen years of violent conflict has resulted in much bloodshed and suffering for the people of Kashmir. But a not-so-well-known aspect about life in Kashmir over the past decade is that for some Kashmiris the militancy and the consequent turmoil have brought rich rewards. In fact, several have become quite prosperous. While some might have done well in spite of the conflict, many have amassed fortunes because of it. This is Kashmir's dirty little secret - that several people have made millions on a very bloody conflict. Not surprisingly, few are willing to share their rags-to-riches story. This is not to diminish in any way the impoverishment of many Kashmiris over the past 13 years. Besides, some of those who have become rich have done so through the old-fashioned route, ie hard work. But many have made their money from the militancy. Economic power did flow from the barrel of the gun. Take Altaf, for instance. A mechanic who turned millionaire almost overnight thanks to the separatist movement. There are hundreds like Altaf in the Kashmir Valley today; young men who picked up the gun in the name of "azadi" (freedom) or jihad but used it to threaten, to extort and build their personal fortunes. "Altaf didn't have money for his sister's dowry," sneers a neighbor, "and look at him now. Three years as a militant and he has bought two cars and owns three large houses in Srinagar alone. Where did he get that money? I've never seen him work." Everyone in his neighborhood in downtown Srinagar knows of his involvement in the militancy. They speak in hushed tones about his lifestyle. It is three years since he left the Hizbul Mujahideen. He still has guns in his house and uses it to extract money from rich businessmen, the neighbor says. ... . ... Another lucrative profession in the Valley is to be a "moderate separatist". Some of these receive funds from both the Indians and the Pakistanis. They step up or tone down their secessionist rhetoric depending on which side is more generous. They lead flamboyant lifestyles - especially when they jet across to Delhi or Dubai. Being a part of the Hurriyat Conference, an umbrella organization of separatist groups, is a bigger money-spinner, it seems. Pakistan channels vast sums of money through the Hurriyat to the various militant groups, some of which is said to have been siphoned off by Hurriyat leaders. Several Hurriyat leaders are paid by Pakistani agencies to keep the separatist pot boiling. Funds that are meant for the widows of slain militants have been diverted to private accounts. The pro-Pakistan hardliners in the Hurriyat have amassed fortunes and their lifestyles are beyond what their declared income would support. .... ... .. . |
| Posted by:rg117 |