Kashmir Solidarity Day

Kashmir Solidarity Day was first observed in 1990 on the call of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who was then opposition leader and chief minister of Punjab. Keeping in view the importance of the issue, the federal government headed by Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto declared February 5th as a public holiday; thus the day became a national event. However, with the passage of time it has evolved into a global event. The day is observed to express solidarity with the people of Indian-occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IOK) in their ongoing freedom struggle, and to pay homage to the martyrs who lost their lives while fighting against Indian occupation. Kashmiris have undergone untold sufferings for the last 67 years, but international community has been found wanting in discharging its obligations in implementation of UNSC resolutions. It would be appropriate to give background of this day, which is observed on both sides of the Control Line and the world over.
On 19th January 1990, puppet chief minister Farooq Abdullah was forced to resign and Governor Rule was enforced in IOK under Jagmohan Malhotra known for his hatred for Muslims and Kashmiris. He unleashed reign of terror and Indian forces launched cordon and search operation. Thousands of Kashmiris took to the streets against Indian military’s repression that had fired indiscriminately killing over fifty people and injuring hundreds of them. On 5th January1949, United Nations Security Council had passed resolution bestowing the right to the people of Kashmir to join Pakistan or India through a plebiscite to be held under the aegis of the UN. According to the Indian Independence Act and Partition Plan of June 3, 1947, passed by the British Parliament on July 18, 1947, the Indian British colony was to be divided into two sovereign states.
The Hindu-majority areas were to form India and the Muslim-majority areas of Western provinces and east Bengal were to be included in the state of Pakistan. Under the criterion of partition, the princely states had to accede either to Pakistan or to India, keeping in consideration the geographical situation and communal demography. Being a Muslim-majority state, with an 87% Muslim population, Kashmir had a natural tendency to accede to Pakistan, but the evil designs of its then Hindu ruler, Maharaja Hari Singh, and the Indian National Congress paved the way to destroy the future of millions of people of Kashmir. India occupied the state by deploying its army there on October 27, 1947, in total disregard to the spirit of the partition plan and against the Kashmiris’ aspirations. Of Course, UNSC resolutions have yet to be implemented.
It has to be mentioned that despite UN resolutions and commitment of the first prime minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru, India refuses to implement the resolutions. Situation today has become more complicated. Keeping in view Indian Prime Minister Modi’s machinations to unilaterally alter the status of Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IoK), the day February 5, 2016 has become of special significance. During one year of PDP-BJP alliance Government in IOK, BJP in aid of RSS has furthered its agenda of IOK’s complete integration into India. Though legal experts of India and IOK High Court have clarified the permanent status of Article 370 of Indian Constitution, BJP’s agenda of trifurcation is still on table. In this regard, BJP is in hot pursuit of Mission 44+ in IOK Assembly elections 2020. However, short of that, BJP and RSS are busy in changing religious identity of the State.
For example, special concessions were given to expand the horizon of Amarnath Yatra to project that Hindus have greater stakes in IOK than Muslims. Special efforts are being made for demographic engineering in the State. For example, West Pakistan Refugees have been recruited in Armed Forces from IOK quota. Allocation of lands for separate cities for repatriating Hindu Pundits and Allocation of INR 2 million for rehabilitation of each Pundit family in the Valley are aimed at creating Hindu constituencies in a Muslim majority region through delimitations. On the other hand, the sectors of health, education, local infrastructure, social support and rural development are being controlled by BJP MLAs. Major projects of the State are being announced and implemented in Hindu dominant/BJP constituencies to give a message that only BJP’s voters are entitled to a standard living. Through these tactics, BJP is longing for Mission 44+ in next IOK Assembly elections.
Hurriyat leadership has been suppressed by the PDP-BJP Govt by not allowing them to organize rallies for demanding freedom and expressing love for Pakistan. Their leaders were detained in Police Stations or kept under house arrests during all important events. Detention of Masarat Alam, even after acceptance of bail by IOK High Court, exhibits coercive mechanics of Indian forces/police in the State. Indian malicious intent is evident from the blame game against Pakistan for every internal security issue, merely to avoid serious dialogue on bilateral issues as well as the humanitarian crisis in Kashmir. Pakistan is committed to the just and democratic solution of Kashmir dispute, that is Plebiscite. However, India has never been serious in resolution of the dispute, neither through bilateral dialogue nor involving third party mediation nor by abiding by the UN Resolutions.
In the wake of changing regional and global dynamics, resolution of the issue has become a top most priority but unsensitized international community is perhaps waiting for emergence of regional crises out of Kashmir dispute. Since the time Narendra Modi has became prime minister of India, forced conversion of Muslims and repression on them have traumatized the minorities. International community must take notice of the atrocities committed against Kashmiri people, especially the women and children by Indian security forces and help Kashmiris to get their right of self-determination bestowed by the UNSC. As global players do not find any interest in resolution of the dispute, it has become a humanitarian issue in the region. In this backdrop, Kashmiris today need stronger support of Pakistan so as to achieve their right of self-determination, which remains as unfinished agenda of the 1947 partition plan.