Critique of Colonizing Kashmir by Hafsa Kanjwal

‘Colonizing Kashmir’ by Hafsa Kanjwal presents itself as a groundbreaking analysis of the Kashmir conflict but turns out to be an incomplete ideological work that overlooks essential historical and geopolitical truths. The book's main argument that India's Kashmir policies represent colonialism is both historically inaccurate and intellectually dishonest. Kanjwal falsely asserts that India manipulated development and education to oppress Kashmir while ignoring the region's real threats like terrorism and ethnic violence that pushed the state to prioritize stability instead of democracy.

1. Development and Governance Critique

Kanjwal accuses the Indian government of legitimizing its control through development projects such as roads, schools, hospitals, and dams. This argument is utterly ridiculous. How should a government operate in a border state that experiences both insurgency and outside threats without taking certain actions? Build nothing? Let chaos reign? The practice of governments investing in infrastructure and education to stabilize their border regions is a common strategy used by nations around the globe including India. The narrative that constructing fundamental facilities represents "colonial oppression" trivializes colonial history while disparaging territories that faced true settler-colonial subjugation through ethnic cleansing and cultural destruction which India has never implemented in Kashmir

2. Education as a Tool of Political Indoctrination?

Kanjwal asserts that Indian educational programs worked to advance nationalistic ideas while erasing the cultural identity of Kashmiri Muslims. Again, this is nothing but exaggerated whining. The duty and right of every sovereign nation to establish national unity remains strong particularly in regions susceptible to external influence. How can India promote national unity among its students when Pakistan supports terrorism along their border and China continues its territorial annexation of Himalayan land? Calling the education of national unity for schoolchildren in a contentious border region an act of colonialism reveals a lack of seriousness to the point of delusion. Does the concept of "colonialism" encompass linguistic or historical changes when Pakistan imposes Urdu upon multi-ethnic regions like Balochistan and Sindh? When analyzing colonialism Kanjwal omits her "decolonial" perspective which would otherwise expose Pakistan's similar oppressive practices.

3. Blatant Omission of Pakistan and China's Roles

The greatest mistake in Colonizing Kashmir is Kanjwal's complete silence about Pakistan and China's involvement. The land of Kashmir is shared among India, Pakistan, and China yet she holds India solely accountable. Pakistan planned the tribal invasion of 1947 and financed terrorist activities through groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen while openly radicalizing Kashmiri youth. China has taken control of Aksai Chin illegally while building up military forces along Ladakh's frontiers. Kanjwal attempts to convince readers that India alone is to blame while obscuring the imperialist projects involved. The work presented here serves as straightforward propaganda rather than legitimate scholarly research.

4. Ignoring the Indigenous Population: The Exodus of Kashmiri Hindus

Kanjwal omits any reference to the devastating 1990 expulsion of Kashmiri Hindus which resulted in over 300,000 natives being forced to flee their ancestral lands due to death threats and forced religious conversion. Mosques used religious cleansing slogans "Raliv, Galiv, Chaliv" (Convert, Die or Leave) during attacks when terrorists engaged in mass killings and sexual assaults. A serious historian cannot overlook Kashmir's most massive and terrifying ethnic cleansing case in recent history. Because it doesn't fit her narrative. Her selective storytelling stands on indefensible moral ground while making her analysis worthless to those who understand the complete historical context.

5. Recent Events Completely Destroy Her Premise

Kanjwal's attempts to hide reality continue to fail as current headlines scream its persistent existence. Terrorists targeted Hindu pilgrims and migrant workers in Kashmir on April 22nd, 2025 during another civilian attack. Multiple people were killed and injured. The pattern is clear: Radical Islamist terrorism dominates the region instead of any imaginary Indian "colonial" subjugation. Where are the rights of those victims? Where does the academic world express its outrage about terrorism driven by religious motivations? The Indian-controlled section of Kashmir maintains its position as the safest and most developed region when compared to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (Azad Kashmir) and Chinese-occupied Aksai Chin where dissent faces brutal suppression and religious minorities suffer persecution alongside imprisoned journalists.

6. The Civilizational Link India Has with Kashmir

The historical timeline of Kashmir including its temples and traditional practices extends back far beyond the emergence of Islam and the creation of Pakistan and China. Kashmir has always been a fundamental component of Indian civilization. The characterization of Indian governance in Kashmir as "colonialism" represents a fundamental misrepresentation of historical and civilizational truths.

7. Pre-Islamic Kashmir: Erased by Kanjwal’s Narrative

As part of Indian civilization, Kashmir thrived during the pre-Islamic era with Shaivism teachings and Sanskritic learning along with Buddhist principles. This region produced notable figures like Abhinavagupta (Shaiva philosopher) alongside famous ancient learning centers such as Sharada Peeth. Before Islamic conquest entered Kashmir, its temples and language along with social structures and cultural practices remained purely of Indian origins for Hundreds of years As a matter of fact, archaeological discoveries alongside ancient texts such as Rajatarangini by Kalhana from the 12th century demonstrate Kashmir's longstanding ties to Indian civilization. The designation "Kashmir" originates from Sanskrit terminology ("Kashyapa-Mira") which existed prior to any Islamic conquests. The description of India's presence in Kashmir as "colonial" displays an ignorance of historical facts. You cannot colonize your own civilizational heartland. Kanjwal chooses to ignore Kashmir’s ancient historical ties to India since such facts contradict her narrative of a "foreign occupier".

8. Collaboration with Terrorists: The Dirty Secret Omitted

The book fails to address the fact that many local Kashmiri groups have supported cross-border terrorist movements by assisting Pakistan-backed jihadist factions. According to a Hindustan Times investigation from 2018 villagers in the region regularly offered shelter and food to members of Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad.

The NIA investigations revealed networks providing support through local informants and guides while establishing supply routes for entering militants (The Hindu April 2019).

The 2016 Uri Attack where Indian soldiers were killed by militants involved local networks that provided both hideouts and intelligence about army movements (Times of India, Sept 21, 2016).

The notion which portrays Kashmiris as powerless victims of Indian occupation becomes untenable when locals engage in terror operations that result in civilian deaths along with army casualties Colonizing Kashmir by Hafsa Kanjwal fails as academic research because it operates as a political argument with evident gaps and skewed historical interpretation.

I have come to view it as the dying ramblings of a false intellectual who presents her work as the ultimate truth.

This work holds India solely responsible for the Kashmir problem yet:• Ignoring ancient historical facts, Whitewashing Islamist terrorism, Hiding Pakistan and China's roles, Erasing the exodus of Kashmiri Hindus, The promotion of these deceptive and partial stories continues without adequate scrutiny.

I personally don’t believe that this book is ‘revolutionary’ or ‘groundbreaking’ by any regards. Critics are quick to identify logical fallacies and omissions that render the author's arguments baseless.

Blatantly ignoring documented history and disregarding opinions which disrupt the author’s beliefs, is somewhat regular in this book, basic research debunks the majority of the arguments put forward by the author. Anyone citing this book to argue against India/Indians has either not read it or holds a deeply biased stance favoring Kashmiri insurgents, Pakistan, and China.

References:

1.  Kalhana’s Rajatarangini (12th century historical chronicle)

   
   

 • Source: An ancient Sanskrit manuscript documents Kashmir's history beginning from mythical ages through to the 12th century.

 • English translation available: Various English translations of Kalhana's Rajatarangini exist including "The River of Kings" translated by M.A. Stein. Stein).

2. Sharada Peeth – Archaeological and Historical Studies

 • Academic references: Research by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) alongside independent historians establishes Sharada Peeth as an important pre-Islamic site for learning and religious activities.

3. Hindustan Times (August 3, 2018)

‘The research on Kashmir insurgency demonstrates that terrorists receive assistance from local residents.’

4. The Hindu (April 2019)

The NIA investigation shows that terrorists receive assistance from local people in Kashmir

5. Times of India (September 21, 2016)

Army sources state that local support remains a possibility in the Uri terror attack.

6. NDTV (April 23, 2025)

A terrorist strike targeted Hindu pilgrims and migrant workers in Jammu and Kashmir.

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