Article: The Silenced Himalayas: How India’s Resource Grab in Kashmir Crushes Dissent and Steals a Future
Altaf Hussain Wani
The towering peaks of the Himalayas have long symbolized resilience, independence, and a unique cultural heritage. But today, a more ominous story is unfolding in the region, particularly in Jammu & Kashmir (J&K). Beneath the veneer of ‘national development’ lies a systematic erosion of self-determination, fueled by a relentless pursuit of resource extraction and a chilling crackdown on those who dare to question it. The recent wave of detentions of activists protesting lithium mining and hydropower projects isn’t simply a law-and-order issue; it’s a deliberate silencing of voices standing in the way of a resource grab that prioritizes national ambition over the rights of the Kashmiri people.
The revocation of Article 370 in 2019 was a watershed moment, removing constitutional safeguards and opening the floodgates for centralized control. Since then, J&K has become a prime target for resource exploitation. The discovery of lithium reserves in Reasi, touted as a key to India’s green energy future, is being pursued with a speed and opacity that raises serious concerns. As Aman Zutshi’s reporting vividly illustrates, the initial excitement in Salal village has quickly morphed into anxiety and fear of displacement, echoing a familiar colonial pattern: resource wealth for the nation, dispossession for the locals.
This isn’t a new narrative. Raja Muzaffar Bhat’s detailed investigations into the hydropower projects in the Chenab Valley reveal a similar story – land acquisition with inadequate compensation, environmental degradation, and a disregard for the livelihoods of farming communities. Dams that promise power often deliver devastation, disrupting ecosystems and exacerbating vulnerabilities for those who depend on them. The state’s insistence on pushing forward with these projects, despite local opposition, demonstrates a clear prioritization of national interests over the well-being of its citizens.
But what’s particularly alarming is the response to this opposition. The recent arrests of five trade union leaders in Kishtwar, under the draconian Public Safety Act (PSA), are a chilling indicator of the state’s tactics. These weren’t criminals, but men peacefully protesting the detrimental impacts of hydropower development on their communities. The PSA, a law notorious for its arbitrary nature and violation of due process, is being weaponized to silence dissent and create a climate of fear. The simultaneous detention of environmental activist Rehmatullah Ahmed in Doda, for simply questioning waste management practices, further solidifies this disturbing trend.
This isn’t isolated. Reports of increased surveillance, intimidation, and the labeling of activists as “anti-national” paint a picture of a systematic effort to stifle any opposition to the government’s agenda. It’s a classic playbook: discredit the dissenters, criminalize their actions, and suppress their voices.
The core issue here isn’t simply about lithium or hydropower; it’s about self-determination. The right of a people to freely determine their political status and control their own resources is a fundamental principle of international law. In J&K, this right has been systematically eroded, replaced by a top-down approach that prioritizes national interests and disregards the needs and concerns of local communities. The resistance to these projects – through protests, advocacy, and legal challenges – is a legitimate exercise of that right. To criminalize this resistance is to deny the Kashmiri people their agency and their future.
The international community cannot stand idly by. It has a moral and legal obligation to hold the Indian state accountable for its actions and to support the efforts of local communities to defend their rights. This requires:
•Demanding the immediate release of all activists detained under the PSA and other repressive laws.
•Calling for transparent and independent investigations into allegations of human rights abuses.
•Advocating for genuine and inclusive consultations with affected communities before any resource extraction projects are approved.
•Supporting the recognition and protection of Indigenous rights, including customary land rights and traditional knowledge.
•Pressuring the Indian government to adhere to international environmental standards and ensure that all projects undergo rigorous Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs) with full public access to the findings.
The Himalayas are not just a source of minerals and hydropower; they are a living landscape, a cultural treasure, and the home to millions of people. The relentless pursuit of resource extraction at the expense of local communities and environmental sustainability is a short-sighted and ultimately self-destructive path.
The silencing of dissent in Kashmir is a warning sign – a stark reminder that economic development cannot come at the cost of human rights and self-determination. The future of the Himalayas, and the future of the Kashmiri people, depends on a shift towards a more just, equitable, and sustainable approach – one that respects the voices of those who call these mountains home. It’s time to listen before the echoes of dissent are completely drowned out.
(The writer is Chairman of Kashmir Institute of International Relations and can be reached Email: saleeemwani@hotmail.com On X. @sultan1913)
