Recently, Indian Army Chief Bipin Rawat issued a veiled threat which stated that those Kashmiris who were creating ‘hurdles’ in security operations in the restive valley would face ‘tough action’. He issued the threat in response to heavy stone-pelting by civilians in Bandipore area of the valley who tried helping separatist militants escape an impending operation by Indian security forces. The statement was met with widespread condemnation by Indian opposition parties and separatist groups such as the National Conference (NC), Indian National Congress (INC), All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF). However, the ruling parties at both the state and union level endorsed Rawat’s statement while calling opposition parties and groups not to ‘politicise’ the Indian Army. Most groups opposing the statement rightly pointed out that the Indian government is out of touch with the ground realities in the valley that has led to alienation of the Kashmiri youth. The majority of the people residing in the disputed region occupied by India demand a right to self-determination that was promised to them decades ago. The failure to hold a plebiscite not only jeopardised peace but also fomented deep mistrust among the locals against Indian rule.The Kashmir uprisings of 1989 should have awakened Indian authorities for holding a fair referendum but the failure led to further complications over the years with militancy becoming a means to pursue the desired goal of freedom. Moreover, the assassination of Burhan Wani, a popular militant leader associated with Hizbul Mujahideen, in July 2016 became a huge turning point of the Kashmir dispute in its modern history. Wani’s demise led to mass protests across the valley and all lines of communications were cut off for weeks. His funeral attracted some 100,000 mourners in Srinagar and this was the point where India truly lost the region. Indian security forces tried to subdue the protests through violent means that included utilising pellet guns and chilli-laced rifles. The pellets blinded countless number of Kashmiris and even hospitals were not allowed to treat some of the injured protestors by state machinery. The July 2016 uprising caused over 10,000 injuries and over 100 protestors were killed at the hands of the Indians. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch (HRW) have already pointed out the alleged brutalities of the Indian Army in the past that were similar to the current ones. Furthermore, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Dr Maleeha Lodhi, has repeatedly highlighted the issue of Kashmir in her meetings with UN officials especially the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, for the purpose of resolving the dispute. A dossier on Indian brutalities has also been provided by Dr Lodhi to top UN officials a few months ago that was aimed in pointing out the facts. In a recently issued statement at an event held in New York to mark the Kashmir Solidarity Day, she also reaffirmed her commitment to the Kashmiris by saying, “Until Kashmir is liberated from Indian occupation, our moral, political and diplomatic support to the Kashmiri people will continue.” Her statement should be an eye opener for the Indian government and military that fails to recognise the Kashmir dispute as a matter to be discussed through diplomacy with Pakistan. By keeping the Kashmiris prisoners in their own land and keeping top separatist leaders such as Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and Syed Ali Shah Geelani under house-arrest, India is inciting not only violence but also running away from a reality that haunts it. Hence, threats and coercive measures can do no harm to the struggle for freedom. *