S M Hali Americas Wall Street Journal has reported that Barack Obama has been counselled by his advisors to avoid the K word during his maiden sojourn to New Delhi as President. He has been asked to be mindful of the sensitivities of his host and refrain from even mentioning Kashmir, although it is a boiling cauldron and could prove to be a flashpoint between the nuclear arms-equi-pped hostile neighbours - Pakistan and India. Obama, who had taken cognisance of the vitriolic nature of the Kashmir dispute during his presidential elections campaign, had announced that he would help resolve the issue in an endeavour to bring peace to the subcontinent. Unfortunately, after assuming the mantle of Presidency, he is surrounded by Israeli and Indian origin advisors, who have so far ensured that he remains oblivious to the promise. The US media is also flooded with soft image campaigns of Incredible India and that it is Indias key commercial partner. The total trade for the period of January to July this year, stood at $27.96 billion. The US media reports that the Indian companies are present in over 35 US states, and have bent backwards to propagate that they boost the US economy and create jobs for Americans, while millions in India continue to starve and die. Then about 239 Indian firms have invested $21 billion in the US through 267 acquisitions between 2004 and 2009. These acquisitions have been spread over manufacturing, IT, biotechnology, chemicals, pha-rmaceuticals and telecommunications. So stunning is the impact of these media campaigns that Indias true visage stands obscured. Also, the US is keen to exploit the Indian market; indeed, a sagging US economy is likely to be propped by the prospects of multi-billion defence and nuclear reactor sale to India. Under the circumstances, Indian human rights abuses against Kashmiris, Maoists, Christians, Dalits, Sikhs and Muslims are likely to be brushed under the carpet. However, Kashmiris are in no mood to let this golden opportunity slip past. Nearly 4,500 signatories comprising prominent Kashmiri leaders, human rights activists across the world, and the US and British lawmakers, have released a petition, Tragic Situation in Kashmir Demands the Urgent Attention of President Obama, under the aegis of the Kashmiri American Council/Kashmir Centre. The petition reads: We, the undersigned, have been deeply moved by reports of almost the entire population of major towns in Kashmir coming out in the streets and staging demonstrations for exercising their right of self-determination. We take this massive, spontaneous, indigenous and peaceful upsurge, as an unmistakable expression of resentment by Kashmiris against the neglect of the human tragedy caused by the international communitys failure to resolve the dispute concerning the status of the State of Jammu and Kashmir. We also view this as yet another indication of the yearning by Kashmiris for an amicable settlement of dispute, so they can live in peace and prosperity. So far, India has used the Obama administrations stance that Pakistan and India should resolve the Kashmir issue bilaterally as a leverage that since the US is not interested in getting involved, the more than 700,000 Indian armed forces deployed in Kashmir can continue with their reign of terror, bleeding the Kashmiris to death. Despite the fact, that the UN resolutions, to which India itself is a signatory, recognise Kashmir as a disputed territory and unfinished agenda of the Indian Partition Act of 1947, India continues its illegal occupation of the valley. So, the freedom struggle of the Kashmiris is not only just and righteous, but also follows the canons prescribed to attain their civil liberties. Anyway, the petition addressed to President Obama recommends: If a response to the gravity of the situation is intended, we firmly believe that the following measures are essential: a). The immediate and complete cessation of military and paramilitary actions against the civilian population in Jammu and Kashmir; b). Withdrawal of the military presence from towns and villages; c). Dismantling of bunkers, watch towers and barricades; d). Releasing of all political prisoners; e). Annulling various special repressive laws; and f). Restoring the rights of peaceful association, assembly and demonstrations. It is expected that Obama will ignore the plight of Kashmiris and move to gratify the Indians at the peril of being labelled as a supporter of brutal oppression. And if he sacrifices the plea of the Kashmiris at the altar of selfish desires for accessing the Indian markets, Obama will go down in history as one of the worst Presidents of the US, even more helpless than George Bush. More so, Obama has the temerity to take notice of perceived violation of human rights in Tibet, but the clear and present danger to humanity in Kashmir is being shadowed by US expediency. It looks as though he is bound to try and appease his Indian hosts, whom the US is trying to build up both as a regional power and a bulwark to contain what it perceives as a threat from China. Nevertheless, the Kashmiri cry of anguish has been falling on deaf ears far too long. They have pinned their hopes on President Obama, since he had shown the spark of statesmanship. However, if he proves to be a mediocre leader with marginal credibility, then only God can help the Kashmiris. The writer is a political and defence analyst.