Could the Indo-Pak thaw alleviate the plight of regions women?

Mohammad Shehzad

Islamabad, Mar 07: Women are the worst victims of militancy in Kashmir. Being a weak, helpless and marginalized segment of the society in a male-dominated culture, they depend on men for their survival. Atrocities of the security forces like custodial killings and police torture play havoc with their lives.
Peace is indispensable for women's welfare and empowerment. It provides a free environment to carry out their duties at home as well as work. That is the reason, women are very happy with the improving relations between India and Pakistan.
At a festival of Aga Khan Rural Development Support Program (AKRSP), I met some women from Olding (Kharmang) in the Northern Areas that borders India. This place was under the Indian shelling for the last six years. The perpetual bombardment had displaced around 7,000 people destroying their lands and houses. The displaced people took refuge in Skardu where they are living miserably in tents. AKRSP, under its various women empowerment program, enhanced the capacity of the women of these people. They are now earning reasonable money to make their livings.
Bano is a member of this community. She is delighted with the thaw in India-Pak relations. 'I am praying day and night for a durable peace. Since the ceasefire has been announced, there was not a single incident of firing in our area. We want to go back to our village. The only fear is about the permanency of the peace between the two countries. If the both governments vow not to fire across the line of control, we could go back to our village and start a new life. We have property there and with enhanced skills, we could contribute towards the country's economy.'
Her insightful talk motivated me to quiz more voices and explore the current India-Pak relations from the 'gender' perspective. My first contact was Mohammad Usman Qazi, a Fellow of Leadership for Environment And Development (LEAD) from the most backward province of Pakistan i.e. Balochistan.
He was of the view that only peace is not enough to improve the plight of the women of the region. There are some other issues that need to be addressed, e.g. 'patriarchy'. He says: 'When General Musharraf talks of combating terrorism, it essentially means 'international woman.' Whereas, for a common woman, the real issue is that of domestic terrorism including violence against women, bride-burning, gang rapes, honor killing, forced marriages, marital rape, etc.'
'In my opinion, the root-cause, of international and especially domestic terrorism is rooted in the institution of patriarchy. I don't see any concrete steps being taken in the country to puncture the false blowup of patriarchy manifested in all the actions of the state-be it the missile replica on public places, the mention of mardangee (machismo) by the federal ministers as a virtue, and the general militarization of public mind through the mass media.'
'Similarly, the proliferation of an essentially patriarchal militant mindset through the curriculum of both the mainstream as well as madrassa (religious seminaries) systems of education has hitherto remained untouched. The symbol of authoritarianism such as stopping of traffic for VIP movements, diverting of passenger flights for 'security' reasons, etc. are subtle messages that popularized a culture of 'might-is-right' are a part of the daily routine of common Pakistani. This attitude-transfer cannot lead to anything but a power-based patriarchal culture making lives difficult for the weaker sections of the society including women.'
Arshia Malik, a Srinagar-based gender activist, writes columns for Kashmir Images. Endorsing Qazi's viewpoint, she added: 'Peace for a woman living in the border areas of Kupwara district or near the Line of Control (LoC) might mean safer areas to fetch water and firewood from without having to worry about landmines or shelling.'
'For a woman living in Srinagar or other major towns, it could mean better opportunities and avenues for empowerment and emancipation. The women bear the brunt of loss of lives, disappearances, custodial killings, imprisonment, torture unemployment, etc in the form of rape, abuse, harassment domestic violence, financial constraints, increased vulnerability to physical assault and mental trauma. Patriarchy is a dominant factor in the region's social setup and the majority of the women are dependent on the men for their care, nourishment and well-being.'
Dr Mahnaz Fatima, an economist based in Karachi, also supports the above viewpoints, calling the Islamabad Declaration (January 6) 'a vague statement of intent' about universal truths.
'It is short on specifics required vitally to address the complex issues confronting the female half of the regional population kept subdued and terrorized particularly in its two largest countries of India and Pakistan. While the elusive goal of women's empowerment is mentioned in the section on 'social cooperation,' the path to it remains unclear. There is no mention of how the barbaric traditions of karo-kari [honor killing], wani [exchange of girls in the settlement of disputes], marriage to the Holy Book, and dowry deaths rampant in India would be dealt with.'
'Women's empowerment is a long shot against the above backdrop of terrorism against women which ranges from physical to mental and psychological. While getting some "prominent women personalities" on board is good to know. Prominent women in this region do not represent the multitude. Because the average level of women's status is a controlled strait-jacketed one, cast into the same mould - generation after generation - with overemphasis on their reproductive role and mental and intellectual capabilities. Generally, they are not expected to rise in the hierarchy of needs towards self-fulfillment, self-esteem, and self-actualization, even if educated and gainfully employed. As women are expected to operate only at the lowest levels in the needs hierarchy, population explosion should not come as a big surprise to policy planners. While the country's elite propose education as a solution to this, they are unable to see that the most heinous crimes against women are also committed by educated but unenlightened men on educated women.'
Fatima quotes two examples to support her arguments. 'Afsheen's BCS in computer sciences could not save her from honor killing allegedly carried out by law graduates of the family who, allegedly, took the law into their own hands. While this is physical Kari [killing], Pakistan's world fame and tough-nerved Benazir Bhutto is psychologically 'karied' every now and then by her clan and paternal family. They have ousted Benazir from her clan and want her to give up her father's name. While the above are two polar cases of violence even against educated women, one can well imagine what the plight of the less educated must be and also of those whose harassment, violence, and terrorism make no headlines.'
There is a visible difference between Bano and rest of the people's approach. But there is no doubt that peace cannot aggravate the women's plight. It could make a big difference if it is sustained. The killing of six civilians in Bandipora (North Kashmir) in the second week of February is the worst example in this effect. The Indian army used them as 'human shield' in an operation to flush out militants in Argam forests.

Such incidents would not strengthen peace but only provoke militancy casting serious doubts on India's commitment to peace

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