Nazia Nazar
The terrible massacre of Kashmiris in Indian Occupied Kashmir continues unabatedly for the last seven decades. The catastrophe is big enough to move any conscious human being, but unfortunately the apathy and insensitivity of international community has encouraged India to perpetrate atrocities on the people of Kashmir in violations of universally accepted human rights. Not that international community is unaware of repression and heinous crimes in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK); it is rather the vested interest of western Governments to remain mute just to please India. Recently, a new wave of Indian brutalities has been witnessed with the martyr of an eminent Kashmiri leader Burhan Wani, who was a great voice for freedom of IOK. The planned killing of Burhan Wani triggered protest throughout the valley, and there were protests in all parts of Kashmir.
To suppress the protestors, Indian military and police opened fire on them martyring about three dozen innocent and armless Kashmiris so far. The recent genocide in IOK has received wide coverage in international as well as domestic Indian media, and even the UN Secretary General Ban ki-Moon and the US have advised India to stop massacre of Kashmiris. Instead of accepting the reality, India resorts to implicating Pakistan for Kashmiri uprising. Indian allegations against Pakistan are a ploy to hoodwink the International Community on Kashmir issue and to hide state- sponsored atrocities on innocent people of IOK. International community must realize the plight of IOK’s people. Kashmir has been under unlawful Indian occupation since October 1947. The people of Jammu and Kashmir have been granted the right of self-determination under several UN Security Council resolutions.
The UN (UNCIP) resolution of January 5, 1949 had bestowed on the people of Kashmir the right to join India or Pakistan through a plebiscite under the aegis of the UN. Unfortunately, champions of human equality and advocates of preservation of human rights have done little to resolve decades-long dispute. Leonardo Boff has rightly said: “The eternal destiny of human beings will be measured by how much or how little solidarity we have displayed with the hungry, the thirsty, the naked and the oppressed. In the end we will be judged in terms of love”. A peaceful, negotiated settlement of Kashmir dispute in accordance with UN resolutions should rank top on UN’s agenda. India should also realize that no freedom movement has ever been suppressed with force, and Kashmir is no exception.
Punjab, Sindh and KPK of course stand by their Kashmiri brethren; however Balochistan is showing solidarity with Kashmiris on 14th July. Huge rallies in all parts of Balochistan are being planned to demonstrate unity with Kashmiris against crimes committed by India in IOK. Youth including universities, colleges and schools would be mobilized with civil society. Local leaders will address the rallies to give a clear message of support to the Kashmiris. For over six decades, Kashmiris have been denied their right to self-determination bestowed by the United Nations Security Council resolutions. No other nation perhaps has gone through such a long ordeal and suffering in the history and their unending nightmare continues. Since 1989, Kashmiri youth started struggle against atrocities, killings and ruthless exploitation, and since then about 100000 Kashmiris have been martyred.
Indian hatred and animosity against the Kashmiri Muslims is deep-seated, and its reflections can clearly be seen through Indian repressive tactics including torture, extra-judicial killings, rape and fake encounters by Indian Security Forces in IOK that continue unabated. The aim is to deter Kashmiri populace from demanding their right of self-determination. The repression, oppression and atrocities by Indian forces have turned Kashmir into a hell that would stretch Dante’s imagination reflected in his famous poem “Divine Comedy”. However, these heinous acts could not break the will of Kashmiris. The heroic struggle waged by the people of Kashmir is unparalleled in the history; they are committed to continue their struggle till their objective is achieved. It has to be said that no solution can be found without participation and consensus of the people of Kashmir.
The US, UN secretary general and conscientious world leaders have taken notice of Indian brutalities in IOK. But India says it is India’s internal matter, as Kashmir is an integral part of India. Earlier, India had taken the stance that Kashmir dispute would be resolved through bilateral negotiations, taking the plea that it was decided in Simla Agreement. However, one should not ignore the fact that Article 103 of Chapter XVI of the UN Charter clearly states: “In the event of a conflict between the obligations of the members of the United Nations under the present Charter and any other international agreement, their obligation under the present charter shall prevail”. Unfortunately, both the Congress and BJP have identical stance so far as relations with Pakistan and resolution of Kashmir issue are concerned.
