Afia Ambreen
Reportedly, 17 Indian soldiers have been killed in an attack on 12 Brigade Headquarters in Uri sector of Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK). In the hours following the attack, India blamed Pakistan. However, Pakistan categorically rejected India’s baseless and irresponsible accusations by calling it a blatant attempt to divert attention from the deteriorating situation in IOK since the death of Burhan Wani. More than 100 people have been killed and thousands injured during the recent episode of protest and ongoing curfew in the valley. The indiscriminate firing of pellet guns has blinded a large number of youth. Nobody has been spared the brute State force including the elderly wounded patients in hospitals including women and children. Ironically, India, as always, chose to blame Pakistan for the incident even prior to conducting proper investigation. This attack seems as a part of a pattern to mislead world opinion and cover up India’s reign of terror in Occupied Kashmir.
It is important to mention that it happened in a Sikh community dominant area, and many killed were Sikhs, and everyone know Sikhs are kind of supporting Kashmir freedom fighters; so this is to create bad blood between Sikhs and Kashmiri youths. Everyone remembers what happened in the year 2000 prior to the visit of US president Bill Clinton, when dozens of innocent Sikhs were brutally killed by Indian armed forces at Chittisingpura area of IOK to create the same impact. Initially Indians blamed Kashmiri militants but after months of investigations it was revealed that Indian Army itself was involved in that massacre of Sikh Kashmiris and the idea was to stop Sikhs supporting Kashmir cause. No one can deny the stark truth that the Sikhs in IOK have been treated very badly under each and every Government. Sikh community at present juncture feels totally isolated from the so called democratic Government due to no minority rights for this ethnic group. They are feeling neglected and facing acute prejudice in all spheres. Historically Sikhs in Kashmir have suffered both economically and politically at the hands of different regimes. Agriculture and transport sector traditionally have been the main stay of the Sikhs in Kashmir. With the promulgation of Big Landed Estates Abolition Act and introduction of Agrarian Reforms Act, excess land beyond prescribed limit was either returned to State or given to tillers and land that which was cultivated by tenants was transferred to them. This resulted in migration of Sikh youth from villages to cities in search of jobs and being in minority & without any political patronage they suffered on job front too.
Ironically, after flop drama to involve Pakistan in Uri attack, Indian Defense Minister Manohar Parikar has admitted that there were few flaws in Uri security. Kill some of their own and mourn over them – it is a popular trend when it comes to foreign policy of India. Uri Attack has the exact same backdrop; just days before UN General Assembly session. On the other hand, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, during his speech to the UN General Assembly, called upon the United Nations to send a fact-finding mission to the IOK to know the ground realities of brutal killings of innocent Kashmiris by the Indian forces. He asked the world that steps should be taken by the UN to de-militarize Jammu and Kashmir and undertake consultations with India, Pakistan and true representatives of the Kashmiri people to implement the resolutions of the UN Security Council (UNSC). He also welcomed the offer of good offices by Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and announced that Pakistan will also open consultations with members of the Security Council to explore the modalities for implementation of the UNSC resolutions on Kashmir. The Prime Minister maintained that he, on behalf of the Kashmiris and the Pakistani nation, would demand an independent inquiry into the killing of Kashmiris by the Indian forces.
International community should understand, they are lacking the general sense of realization regarding the gravity of the situation. Kashmir is a nuclear flashpoint for more than one reason, firstly and most importantly it is about the right of self-determination of people of Kashmir, people who have been subjected to extreme human rights violations over decades of suppression. Secondly it is an unfinished agenda of partition, an unaddressed matter of United Nation resolution and a clear evidence of international double standards when it comes to setting trends and solving issues related to suppressed Muslim masses. It is worth mentioning that dialogue with India is not a favour to Pakistan but in the interest of both the countries. India has always set unacceptable pre-conditions for talks, which hampered the process every time. Pakistan has always offered sincere and constructive talks with India at every forum. Peace between Pakistan and India would not be possible without resolving the Kashmir dispute.
