Rameez Makhdoomi
2018 Year is ending and it has been one of the bloody years in the 30 year history of Kashmir conflict . 2018 (MMXVIII) which was the current year, and is a common year which started on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, the 2018th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 18th year of the 3rd millennium, the 18th year of the 21st century, and the 9th year of the 2010s decade.
Bloodshed seemed written all over the year 2018 with kashmiris being among the majority of the casualties suffered and more than 90 percent of coffins of the conflict affecting the households of Kashmir. There were 587 incidents of violence during 2018 compared to 329 last year. Official figures say 240 militants were killed during the year against 200 last year.
Casualties among civilians and the security forces have also been comparatively higher. Thirty-seven civilians and 86 security men were killed in 2018 against 36 civilians and 74 security personnel killed last year.
People across the spectrum are dismayed over the blood soaked 2018 .
Mushtaq Ul Haq Ahmad Sikandar, a prominent writer and activist of Kashmir, while talking to the News Kashmir stated :”2018 was unfortunately one of the years that witnessed most violence in the recent turbulent history of conflict hit Kashmir. Militants, poilcemen, army men, civilians, informers, political activists, journalists were killed during this year with majority of the victims being Kashmiris themselves. The nature of this ugly bloodshed calls for a meaningful dialogue with the angry youth of Kashmir and also dialogue between India and Pakistan. We hope against hope that coming year 2019 brings some relief in our lives to end this disaster once for all .2018 overall gave us a nostalgia of bad memories of death and destruction. ”
On the other side of the spectrum, the hope is that year 2019 would bring some good news for Kashmir eluding peace .
Bilal Bashir Bhat, editor in Chief Daily Jung, while talking to the News Kashmir stated :”2018 was the year of unprecedented death and destruction, this year was among the most violence hit years of Kashmir with large number of civilians and local militants dying in the conflict. We need to touch the cause of this which lies in the unresolved political issue of Kashmir for which meaningful dialogue should be held between India, Pakistan and Kashmir. But on important terms 2018 gave us tears and blood. We hope for better 2019 .
