Daily Times

The spontaneous outrage and reaction to extrajudicial killing of Burhan Wani by the Indian security forces in the Indian-occupied Kashmir, and the relentless anti-Indian demonstrations in the valley despite the use of brutal force that has claimed more than 40 lives is undoubtedly demonstrative of the irrepressible desire of the people of Kashmir to decide their future in conformity with the UN resolutions. The Indian response to the uprising of the Kashmiri people for their right of self-determination can easily be likened to the state terrorism at its worst against the subjugated people.

The most unfortunate and painful aspect of the unfolding tragedy in Kashmir is that none of the countries of the so-called civilised world has even raised an eyebrow on this spate of violence by Indian security forces. Although the UN Secretary General offered to mediate for starting a dialogue to ease the tension, he also avoided expressing disapproval of the Indian atrocities.

This indifference of the world community to the sufferings of the people of Kashmir raises many questions begging for answers like: are the Kashmiris children of a lesser God? Does their blood have a different colour? Are they not entitled to one of the fundamental human rights of self-determination? Is it not obligatory on the UN, the world community and powers like the US, who cry hoarse from every convenient rooftop to espouse the cause of human rights and human liberties, to show some spunk by at least condemning the Indian brutalities?

The sufferings of the people of Kashmir started with the landing of Indian forces in Srinagar on 27 October 1947 in the wake of rebellion against the so-called instrument of accession to India by the Maharaja of Kashmir. As the revolt gained intensity, Indian army supported by the security forces of the ruler and local extremist elements let loose a reign of terror against the Muslim population, and reportedly killed thousands of Kashmiris. This development further fuelled the conflagration, eventually leading to war between Pakistan and India.

India approached the UN on 1 January1948 for help in the matter. The UN passed resolutions calling for demilitarisation of the state, and settling the question of accession through a UN-sponsored plebiscite. It is pertinent to note that Lord Mountbatten and Jawaharlal Nehru throughout this period also reiterated that the people of Kashmir would be given the opportunity to decide their own future. The Indian government, however, never exhibited sincerity in meeting its international obligations and fulfilling its promises with the people of Kashmir. It employed all kinds of tactics to procrastinate the issue, and finally reneged on its commitment to hold plebiscite in Kashmir. It had a resolution passed by the General Council of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, calling for elections to the constituent assembly for settling the question of accession. The constituent assembly on November 1957 passed a constitution for Kashmir, and also announced the accession of the whole of Kashmir to India. The UN through its resolution number 91 and 122 respectively rejected both actions, and emphasised the fact that the issue of accession could not be resolved by any method other than that provided in the UN resolutions.

India showed no respect for the UN resolutions. In the backdrop of the 1971 Simla Agreement signed between the two countries emphasised the need for settling all disputes between the two states including Kashmir through bilateral negotiations. But regrettably, India adopted an evasive approach in regard to the resolution of the core issue of Kashmir. The tactics used by India frustrated the people of Kashmir who under the banner of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front launched an armed struggle against the Indian occupation in 1989.

Since then it has been a story of never-ending oppression against the people of Kashmir by India. To subdue the armed movement, India inducted more than 70,000 troops. Since then countless Kashmiris have been killed in cold-blood or tortured to death, women subjected to gang rape and humiliation. These atrocities and blatant violations of human rights have been documented by human rights organisations within India as well as international entities. But regrettably, the international community, the UN and even the sole superpower US, which has been showing concern over the continued hostility between Pakistan and India sporadically, have done nothing tangible to have the issues settled. The 9/11 tragedy has also pushed the Kashmir issue off the radar. The US has refused to mediate between the two countries or play the role of a facilitator, and has repeatedly been emphasising the resolution of the Kashmir conundrum through bilateral talks between the two countries.

The Kashmir dispute is a blazing trail of deceptive diplomacy by India, and its philosophy of use of force to keep the people of Kashmir in shackles. It is also a sad story of the insensitivity of the world community to the sufferings of the people subjugated against their will. Kashmir, one of the 584 princely states having 87 percent Muslim population, geographical proximity with Pakistan and strong cultural, political and economic ties with its people, had a strong case for accession to Pakistan in accordance with the Independence Act and the partition plan of 3 June 1947.

History is a witness to the reality that freedom movements cannot be suppressed through the use of brutal force. Notwithstanding the apathy and indifference shown to their plight by the UN, the world community and the powers that be, the people of Kashmir are determined to win their freedom at any cost. Pakistan being a party to the dispute has rightly been extending diplomatic, moral and political support to the struggle of the people of Kashmir by raising the Kashmir issue at international forums and the UN. Pakistan has also been making sincere efforts to re-initiate the process of dialogue between the two countries to resolve the mutual disputes including Kashmir through dialogue. But the Indian government under Narendra Modi has not responded positively to those overtures. If history is any guide, there is no hope of settling the Kashmir issue through bilateral arrangement as agreed under the Simla Agreement.

The only way to resolve the Kashmir issue is either through mediation of the world powers like the US, or falling back to the UN for implementation of its resolutions. The government of Pakistan has rightly and justifiably decided to raise the issue at the UN, and to launch a diplomatic offensive on the international level to sensitise the world about the brazen violation of human rights in Kashmir by India, and to impress upon them the need for resolving the issue. The Indian actions in the occupied Kashmir are an affront to the conscience of the world community.

The writer is a retired diplomat, a freelance columnist and a member of the visiting faculty of the Riphah Institute of Media Sciences, Riphah International University, Islamabad. He can be reached at ashpak10@gmail.com