Daily Times

As global powers enjoys a sound sleep forgetting their obligations to subjugated communities across the world, people in Illegally Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) are forced to bear the pangs of sleepless nights with their screams returning unheard.

Fighting Indian thralldom since decades despite the United Nations resolutions for right to self-determination; is a glaring instance of ignorance on part of international community as Kashmiris are still a prey to day light barbarianism of Indian occupied forces.

As another October 27 – a day when Indian forces for the first time had illegally entered Kashmir in 1947 – passed this Sunday and not an inch movement was seen globally although Pakistani and people in IIOJK protested against Indian occupation on this Black Day.

Pakistanis and Kashmiri people, see October 27 as not just a date but a symbol of shared struggle against injustices inflicted on Kashmiri people during last 77 years. For them, it was an invasion to deny people their inalienable right to self-determination.

“October 27, 1947, is etched in collective memory of Kashmiris as Black Day, marking the beginning of a decades-long conflict and struggle for self-determination,” remarked Chairman International Institute of Kashmir Altaf Hussain Wani.

“On this day, Indian forces invaded Srinagar after Maharaja Hari Singh signed a controversial Instrument of Accession to India on October 26, 1947 against the will of people,” he said. “This historical fact can be traced from the Muslim Conference Resolution, passed on July 19, 1947 that reflected overwhelming desires of the majority population in Jammu and Kashmir to accede to Pakistan.”

The Muslim Conference expected that Maharaja would honor the will of people, he said. “But, he betrayed Kashmiri people and acceded to India which justified military intervention as a necessary act to suppress any resistance, augmenting a protracted and bloody conflict.”

India also took this issue to United Nations, claiming Maharaja’s decision to join India as legitimate. But, the UN Resolution 47 proposed a plebiscite, allowing Kashmiri people to determine their future through a free and fair vote. But, unfortunately, this resolution still remains unimplemented.

After the Jammu Massacre – a dark event in history of Kashmir – where around 250,000 Muslims were killed and hundreds of thousands displaced, millions more have been killed, maimed, blinded, tortured or disappeared till date.

“Black Day tells us stories of injustice and oppression of Kashmiri people in their struggle for right to self-determination,” said Chairman Special Committee on Kashmir, Rana Qasim Noon. “It is crucial to recognize detrimental role of India in sustaining this crisis and denying its peaceful resolution.”

He described Kashmir dispute as one of the longest-standing conflicts in modern history and said, “the world nation must stop this suppression and seek a just solution of Kashmir issue.”

“Failure of international community to get UNSC resolutions enforced, has prolonged suffering of Kashmiri people as this unresolved core issue continues to having far-reaching impact on regional stability and international peace,” he said.

It was also unfortunate that amidst repeated calls of Kashmiri people to world nations to hold plebiscite according to UNSC resolutions to give Kashmiris right to self-determination, India continues uninterrupted genocide of Kashmiri people.

India not only made mockery of the UNSC resolutions, but it also amended article 370 and 35A of its constitution to change internationally recognized status of IIOJK and declared it a part of India.

“Central to the identity and autonomy of Jammu and Kashmir was Article 370 that granted the region a unique form of self-governance, allowing to maintaining its own constitution and exercise independent decision-making powers,” explained APHC leader Abdul Hameed Lone.

“However, revocation of said article in August 2019 marked a significant shift fully integrating Jammu and Kashmir into India’s legal and political framework,” Lone said. “This decision faced widespread condemnation as it drastically reduced region’s autonomy and heightened concerns about potential demographic changes aimed at weakening the Muslim majority.”

This revocation also surged sharply, the reports of human rights abuses, extrajudicial killings and arbitrary detentions painting a bleak picture of life in Kashmir under intensified militarization.

Military operations and detentions had escalated state terrorism in IIOJK and draconian laws were implemented after abrogation of Article 370 wherein several journalists were arrested despite condemnation by the UNSC, EU, OIC and other bodies.

“We observe October 27 as a Black Day as it marks a significant and painful chapter in the history of IIOJK,” said Mushtaq Ahemd Butt, spokesperson of APHC AJK Chapter. “For the people of Jammu and Kashmir, this day symbolizes betrayal of their right to self-determination and the beginning of a long struggle for justice and freedom.”