Maryam Imran
On 27 October 2017, Kashmiris throughout the world will observe “Black Day” to express solidarity with the people of Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) to expose India over her illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir. It was on 27 October 1947, when Indian troops landed in Srinagar and forcibly occupied Jammu and Kashmir in total disregard to the Partition Plan of the Subcontinent and against the aspirations of people of Kashmir. 27 October was the day when Indian forces under a well-planned conspiracy entered Jammu and Kashmir and forcibly occupied it. Kashmir was bound to become a part of Pakistan as it was a Muslim majority territory, however, under a wicked plan and a well-thought-out conspiracy Kashmir was illegally occupied by India. The cardinal principal for the partition of India was that majority Muslim regions would become part of Pakistan and majority Hindu regions would form part of India. But a different formula was contrived for the princely states to benefit India, which was not acceptable to the people of Kashmir. Apart from Jawaharlal Nehru, other accomplices in this greatest human tragedy were Maharaja Hari Singh, Cyril Radcliff and head of the Boundary Commission. In blatant violation of the Partition Plan and against the popular will of Kashmiri Muslim, India announced the accession of Jammu and Kashmir under a controversial Instrument of Accession.
Back in 1947, India violated the guidelines set for deciding the future of Hyderabad, Junagarh and Kashmir, three of the independent Princely States at that time, which were given the choice to either accede to Pakistan or India, considering the geographical situation and communal demography. It forcibly occupied Hyderabad and Junagarh, which had Hindus in majority, but their rulers were Muslims. Kashmir was a Muslim majority state and had a natural tendency to accede to Pakistan, but its Hindu ruler destroyed the future of Kashmiri people by announcing its accession to India under a controversial accession document. The UN Security Council through its successive resolutions nullified Indian invasion and occupation of Kashmir. It also approved a ceasefire, demarcation of the ceasefire line, demilitarization of the state and a free and impartial plebiscite to be conducted under the supervision of the World Body. Although the ceasefire and demarcation of the ceasefire line was implemented while demilitarization of the occupied territory and a free and impartial plebiscite under UN supervision remain unimplemented till date.
Kashmiris continue to suffer death and destruction as every day peaceful resolution is deferred, and international community is not at all moved by their plight. No western chancellery uttered a world of protest as the India set its trigger-happy soldiers upon unarmed demonstrators to clobber and pummel them, to kill and disable them methodically and systematically. During the last 24 years only, the trigger-happy forces have martyred 93,935 Kashmiris, widowed nearly 23,000 women, orphaned 1,07,461 children and molested or gang-raped more than 10,000 Kashmiri women. After the failure of all peaceful means to settle the Kashmir dispute, disappointed and disillusioned by protracted bilateral negotiations between India and Pakistan, Kashmiri youth had taken up arms in 1989. But, after 9/11 events, Kashmiris that are fighting for their right of self-determination are dubbed as terrorists. The US and the West have shown indifference to Kashmiris’ miseries. Only when a public protest fits into geopolitical designs of the western powers, they instantly glorify it as a popular movement; award it the honors of a color label; and also lend it the money muscle power. Just recall their so-labeled the Orange Revolution of Ukraine, the Rose Revolution of Georgia, the Cidar Revolution of Czechoslovakia not in the distant past. The Kashmiris have not been lucky; their movement stays unblessed with a color label. From these exalted powers, as from India, their movement has got only a name: Terrorism. Nevertheless, the resolution of Kashmir dispute lies in tripartite negotiations between India, Pakistan and the accredited leadership of the people of Jammu & Kashmir from both sides of the Cease-fire Line or Line of Control. Anyhow, India’s illegal occupation of Kashmir is a dark chapter in the history of human rights. Denying the right of self-determination to the Kashmiris is morally unacceptable, economically unsustainable and politically inadmissible with regard to any scheme aimed at ensuring global and regional peace, stability and security. The heroic struggle waged by the people of Kashmir is unparalleled in the history, as they are committed to continue their struggle till their objective is achieved. A just and lasting solution to the Kashmir dispute can only be found through a process of dialogue and engagement. For this reason, Pakistan has always initiated a dialogue with India for the solution of Kashmir dispute. Pakistan believes that for peace process, it is essential that Indian armed forces must stop violations of Human Rights in Indian Occupied Kashmir. Despite all sincere efforts by Pakistan government to resolve the long lasting dispute, India has not shown flexibility in this regard. All this reflects that India is not willing to solve Kashmir dispute and end the sufferings of the Kashmiri people. International community, UN, OIC and human rights organizations should take a strong and serious note of State-sponsored terrorism in the territory and release thousands of youth arrested during the present uprising. Kashmiris wanted freedom and right of self-determination as pledged by the UN through its Charter and Security Council resolutions.
