Kashmir has been an apple of discord between India and Pakistan for nearly past 70 years. Currently a boundary – the Line of Control – divides the region in two, one part is administered by India and one by Pakistan. Kashmir is a Muslim majority region and according to 3rd June Plan 1947 defined by the Great Britain, the Muslim majority areas were decided to be the part of Pakistan while Hindu majority areas became India. Indian occupied Kashmir comprises of 95% of Muslims and approximately 4% of Hindus. At the time of division, The Kashmiri Muslims showed their willingness to ally with Pakistan. Seeing this situation, India forcefully introduced armoured troops into the region and tortured local community forcing them to become part of Indian Territory. The scenario turned into a serious conflict and violation of human rights by Indian forces caught the attention of United Nations and a resolution was passed according to which India was advised to minimize the forces in the region and a plebiscite was meant to be held under the supervision of United Nations. The state of Kashmir was announced as a disputed territory. However, even after 70 years of resolution, the plebiscite was never held and the Muslim community has constantly suffered sheer psychological and physical violence. During the last decade, the situation has further worsened. Indian occupied Kashmir is nothing more than a graveyard of living people having huge number of torture cells where innocent Muslims are inhumanly treated just because they are unwilling to accept Indian rule. India’s wild and ruthless attitude has further created hatred among the inhabitants and their only struggle is to get freedom and live a peaceful life.
The Indian occupied Kashmir covers an area of 222, 236 km2 for which more than 600,000 Indian soldiers have been detained in the valley just to open a slaughter house of humans and shut their voice for freedom. The article 370 was intended to assure the state’s autonomy. The prime reason of aborting Article 370 is to completely snatchthe right of Kashmiris’ self-determination and allow the immigration of foreigners into the state to further demolish their identity as Muslim state. India alone cannot change this disputed status and such kind of violation is itself a crime. It is against the very essence of various resolutions of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Jammu and Kashmir, international human rights and humanitarian law.
The article 370 was intended to assure the state’s autonomy. The prime reason of aborting Article 370 is to completely snatch the right of Kashmiris’ self-determination and allow the immigration of foreigners into the state to further demolish their identity as Muslim state. India alone cannot change this disputed status and such kind of violation is itself a crime. It is against the very essence of various resolutions of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Jammu and Kashmir, international human rights and humanitarian law
We Kashmiris strongly condemn and reject the Indian actions and its efforts to change the status of Indian Occupied Kashmir. Pakistani and Kashmiri people living in Portugal reaffirm its abiding commitment to the Kashmir cause and its political, diplomatic and moral support to the people of Occupied Jammu and Kashmir for realization of their inalienable right to self-governance. Currently, the valley has been completely cut off from rest of the world. The region is under strict curfew which is a proof of Indian aggression towards innocent Kashmiris.
We human are one species. Let’s be the support of each other and join our hands together to make this world a beautiful place to live in.
The writer is Ph.D. Scholar, Lusofona University, Portugal) President Kashmir Freedom Movement, Portugal