‘Those are Pakistani Fuji standing at the hill top, and they would soon come down to liberate us’, Said Ibrahim, recalling his vivid childhood   memories, that how his grandmother, would tell him, pointng towards towering pine trees stationed at the hills at night. “And indeed that they would come, we had a faith”, continued Ibrahim. ‘But it never happened,’ he sighed, with gleam diminishing in his eyes.

Ibrahim is a congenial man from Srinagar in his early sixties. His knowledge and analytical abilities are matched by an acute sense of humor. Though much of his bodily strength receded, shine in his eyes has not diminished altogether. “We have sacrificed for six decades, and our generations are ready to sacrifice until we  get the freedom,” resolved Ibrahim.

Kashmir, the unfortunate land is under the shadows of barrels since 1947.Much has been written on this issue, and so much has changed since the last centuray.But the fate of kashmiris,despite unprecedented sacrifices and struggle remains largely unchanged-the plight unabated ;the agonies aggravated further, and mass graves still swelling.

February holds a specific significance for Kashmir. On 5^th February Kashmir solidarity day is celebrated across the length and breadth of Pakistan and AJk, thanks to the efforts of late Qazi Husain Ahmed (who would be remembered long) .The day is marked by the protest marches, rallies and speeches to pay homage to the martyrs of kashmir.Through the observance this day the attention of the world community is drawn to the brutalities unleashed by the Indian Army, in the occupied territory. How do the Kashmiris in the IHK take this Observance of Kashmir Solidarity Day, I asked Ibrahim. “With reverence, as we feel we are not alone in our struggle, responded Ibrahim .But, the observance of the Kashmir solidarity day and grant of MSN to India mar our aspirations, he remarked.

In the month of February the martyrdom of Maqbool Bhatt(11^th February 1984), and Afzal Guru(9^th February 2013) is also celebrated. These were the men who marched to the gallows with their heads lifted, (jis dhaj se koi maqtal ko gya…), for the cause of freedom. Can we forget these men of actions on this day? Certainly not, for the image of martyrs burns more brightly with the passage of time. These were the flamboyant young men who marched on a path of glory, literally putting their lives on razor edge to slit the shackles of slavery. These liberation lovers chose the less trodden path, when they saw the gross apathy of the world and the UN  on Kashmir. Has their deaths diminished the fervor of Kashmiris or ignited it further.The history stands witnessed that the struggle for freedom is on the march forward to its  final destination-the glorious independence.

After the ignominious 9/11, the world politics underwent a huge change. New tactics and approaches came into play. The freedom struggle n Kashmir could not stay aloof from the realities of the world. The struggle took a new shape, the peaceful resistance with a hope to stir the world to their cause, to remind the world of the UN resolutions. In the year 2010 onwards massive peaceful rallies in Srinagar were held, chanting for the rights for freedom. But the world again exhibited   the same indifference and apathy. Islamabad dismayed us, complained Ibrahim. That opportunity could have been seized and the cause of Kashmir could have been presented to the world community, he pointed out. Pakistan was itself trapped in a terrible snare, and was not in a position to focus on Kashmir, I tried to justify. No, It was a huge diplomatic failure of Islamabad, reiterated Ibrahim.

Veritably, the observance of Kashmir Solidarity Day sends very strong signals across the LOC to our brothers. It also stirs our nation (especially youth whose fervor for the cause of Kashmir seem to have frozen) to support the Kashmir get their inherent right of self determination. Aside from that it reminds the comity of the nation of the pledges made to the Kashmir and the moth eaten UN resolutions. But would it suffice? Would the sufferings of the Kashmiri people recede? Would the half widows be solaced? The answers seem resoundingly no. With these questions hovering in my mind, I looked at Ibrahim.”We have lived under the shadows of barrels for sixty seven years and our march to liberation has not halted, it would keep on moving, to glory, the cherished freedom, “vowed Ibrahim.