Labbaba Jahangir
Research Assistant Center for Global & Strategic Studies (CGSS), Islamabad
The situation in Kashmir took a turn for the worst when on 5th August Modi’s government revoked article 370 with a presidential order. Article 370 and 35A granted the state of Jammu and Kashmir special status which allowed it to have a certain level of autonomy. Article 370 gave the region of Jammu and Kashmir the right to its own constitution and autonomy to make laws on all matters, except defense, communications, and foreign affairs. Furthermore, it forbids Indians outside the state from permanently settling, buying land, holding local government jobs and securing education scholarships. These measures have helped in keeping the demographics of the valley in favor of its residence and, they had some level of liberty in certain aspects.
The revocation of article 370 was faced with protests all across the valley. To curb these protests the Indian government-imposed curfew and deployed additional military personals in the region. The non-residents of the area and the tourists visiting the valley were asked to evacuate immediately. This caused a wave of fear to run across the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian government called this move as a step towards peace and progress of the region. If that is the case then, what is the need for the extra deployment of military force and the sudden evacuation?
Today marks as the 39th day of curfew in the valley. This is the second time that a curfew has been imposed for such a long period. Before this Kashmiri people faced a 53-day long curfew, during the 2016-2017 unrest. It was the longest curfew in the history of Kashmir till now. Curfew was clamped in the entire Kashmir on July 9, 2016, following violence in the aftermath of the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen Commander Burhan Wani in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district. People were deprived of all the basic necessities of life for the whole duration of the curfew. They lacked food, medicine other basic things a person needs on a day to day bases. Children were missing their schools and adults not being able to go to their offices. The life was at a stand-still in the area. Above that daily people were being abducted from their homes without any reason. Boys and men being taken away to God know where and for how long. The women left behind were living in constant fear of their life and dignity and also fearing for the lives of their loved ones who have been taken away.
Now all this is happening again since 5th of Aug. There is no mean of communication with the people of Jammu and Kashmir as all telephone lines, internet connections have been cut off. There is a complete blackout in the valley. The world waits in silence, doing nothing for the day when the curfew will be lifted and we’ll be able to assess the level of atrocities carried out by the Indian forces in the area during all these days.
The world might have been silent but the Pakistani government and its people have stood by Kashmiri people since the black day of revocation of the article 370. Pakistan has raised voice on every platform possible. We have urged the concerned International Organizations to take appropriate measures. We have increased our diplomatic efforts in getting support for Kashmir from all the powerful states. Prime Minister Imran Khan has personally called the various head of states to bring them up to date regarding the situation in Kashmir. Our foreign minister has spoken in favor of Kashmir on every platform since the current situation arose in the valley, but is this enough?
Indian government under Modi’s rule has been calling for a military conflict with Pakistan for a long time now. They have been trying to escalate the situation on the border between the two states for quite a few months now. India even violated our air space on 27th Feb 2019, the result of which the whole world saw. Apart from that one major incident, there has been a constant violation of the line of control by the Indian force for a long time now. Even though they are always given a befitting reply by our forces, this needs to stop otherwise it could lead to full-scale war.
Pakistan does not want a war but if pushed towards such a situation we won’t back down either. Our government has had a very clear stanch since day one. We want a diplomatic solution for this issue which is acceptable by the people of Jammu and Kashmir. But if India will not stop the atrocities in the valley and the violation of the LOC, Pakistan will be left with no other option but to answer India in the language which it understands. Prime Minister Imran Khan as warned the international community again and again about the devastating effects the war between India and Pakistan can have on the whole region of South Asia and even the world.
One must not forget that both these states are nuclear powers. Any escalation between them can potentially end in a nuclear war. As PM Imran Khan said during one of his speeches that by mentioning the nuclear war, we are not nuclear blackmailing the world but only stating the obvious fact in-case of any escalation. Similarly our foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has spoken in favor of a diplomatic ad peaceful solution of Kashmir issue but has also stated that if pushed towards a full-scale conflict then we are ready to defend not only our sovereignty but also the rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Despite the continuous efforts of the Pakistani government, the situation in Kashmir is unchanged. India is not ready to come on the table of dialogue and is spreading war hysteria among its population. All the basic human rights of the Kashmiri people are being violated for a month now. They are looking for help towards the international community but no one has responded positively. India has stressed upon Kashmir being an internal matter or a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan. But India itself violated the Shimla agreement by revoking article 370 and changed it into an international issue.
Prime minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan has given a strong statement on various occasions regarding our support for the freedom struggle of Kashmiri people. He has categorically said in his various tweets that the Pakistani nation stands with the Kashmiris in this time of distress. We’ll go to any extent to help and support the Kashmiris in their cause for freedom from India and for them to exercise their right to self-determination given to them by the United Nations. It’s about time that the international community comes together and resolve this issue in a way that is acceptable by the Kashmiri people. They have suffered for a long time now. More than a hundred thousand Kashmiris have lost their lives for this cause. It’s time to end their suffering and to give Modi government a strong response that his extremist fascist ideology has no place in the 21st century.
