Aqsa Shafqat
“History has seen such times, when the crime was committed by a moment, but the punishment was suffered by centuries”. (Sheikh Abdullah, 1987)
These words are unfortunately true for the most beautiful nation of the world known as “Kashmir”, which has been in the highlights for both Pakistan and India. Kashmir has been bleeding for centuries and all this happens while the international community is ostensibly sleeping. The beginning of Kashmir crisis dates back in the times of the partition in 1947. Kashmir hereditary ruler of that time, Maharaja Hari Singh delayed his reason of joining one side for many months, in the hope to accomplish their independence for his principality. As he was the Hindu ruler for the majority of the Muslim population, eventually decided to Indian sovereignty on October 27, 1947, somewhat to progress Indian military subsidy against that time of Islamic revolt. This accession has always been challenged by Muslim Kashmiris while it is regarded by India.
To take full control of Kashmir, Pakistan and India have fought three distinct wars in the last 50 years and two of them were over control of Kashmir. The problem has been on the docket of the United Nations longer than any other dispute. The military observer’s office of the UN has regulated activities at the line of control, and also the cease-fire line segregating the Pakistan-allocated Azad Kashmir and Indian nation of Jammu and Kashmir from the time in 1947 war of Pakistan and India. This cease-fire, which has contributed to 65% of Kashmir to India, was to be just temporary. A referendum was presumed to pursue, enabling the Kashmiris to determine their fortune. But to date, there has been no authority of that referendum. So, this issue has been lasting since then which indicates the triviality, that the world is at vast agreements to awful human rights violations that took place in Kashmir, violation of international standards, and indifference to the obligations to the international community, and all have been done by the Indian government. Regardless, such is a continual state of conspiracies that have been there since the previous 73 years and is creating fuss not just to the people of Pakistan and Illegally Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) but to each human being with moral values.
It has been noted that India has been declining to appear at the negotiating corner with Pakistan or those exemplifying the hope and bright side for the people of IIOJK. Such activities are considered as a violation of the UN Charter, and in the Fourth Geneva Convention Highlighting Article 49 and likewise in UNSC resolutions. This is awful human rights violations that India has devoted in IIOJK particularly after its unilateral activities on 05 August 2019 relating to a gruesome image. From that time, approximately more than 502 Kashmiris are martyred just by the cruel Indian occupation forces in extra-judicial undertakings and fake encounters. Among them, nearly 78 people have been martyred by Indians and as estimated from 01 October 2021, about 52 Kashmiris have been martyred in a cordon and search operations and fake encounters by the cruel Indian occupation forces. Therefore, in such tough seven decades, almost three generations of Kashmiris have undergone within the authorities of Indian occupation forces. Kashmiris still today expect their self-determination which contains the chances not just to select between Pakistan and India, but to reach out for their independence, which neither of Kashmir’s ruling master’s thinks is acceptable. Pakistan supports a treatment that enforces a 1948 U.N. resolution providing Kashmiris the freedom to select between these two countries. And India wants to implement the Shimla agreement approved in 1971 by Prime Ministers Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Indira Gandhi that calls for Pakistan and India to settle the problem bilaterally.
Due to the pandemic and worst conditions of COVID-19, there has been a double lockdown in IIOJK and people have been encountering an absence of entry to hospitals, treatments, proper medication precisely lifesaving prescriptions, and significant supplies that involves ventilators and oxygen kits. Awful human rights violations proceeded with the Indian occupation force that involves about 900,000 troops of India that have been deployed in IIOJK, whirling Kashmir into the world’s vastest open prison. Such structure of genocide and brutalities perceptibly indicates anti-Muslim and anti-peace agenda known as Hindutva of RSS-BJP associated Government. It is high time that India must understand that at no percentage of the brutalization of innocent Kashmiris can repress their voice and the legal movement to accomplish their sacred freedom to self-determination. Nor will illegal and unlawful actions that India be eligible to deceive the world into approving India’s inaccurate portrayal against the Kashmiris.
Writer works at Institute of
Regional Studies, Islamabad
