India failed to suppress the people of Kashmir.

According to the United Nation, Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) is a disputed region between China, Pakistan, and India, and pending the decision to be part of Pakistan or India, through a plebiscite. Since 1948, some UN resolutions regarding J&K are still pending and have not been implemented by India unilaterally. As a matter of fact, India is a defaulter of the UN for more than seven decades.

On 5 August 2019, India took illegal and unilateral steps in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) in a bid to change its internationally recognized disputed status and to alter the demographic structure of the occupied territory.

Developments in the last three years have made it amply clear that India has been relentlessly pursuing its nefarious design of furthering demographic changes in IIOJK. It is doing so through repressive measures including outrageous gerrymandering to create Hindu-dominated constituencies at the expense of Muslim majorities, the issuance of millions of fake domicile certificates to non-Kashmiris, and modifying laws on ownership of land and property.

These measures constitute nothing but an Indian attempt to obliterate the distinct Kashmiri identity in violation of the United Nations Security Council Resolutions and international law, including the 4th Geneva Convention.

The presence of 900,000 troops has turned IIOJK into the most militarized zone in the world. The human suffering of Kashmiris inflicted through extra-judicial killings, arbitrary detentions, incarceration of the true Kashmiri leadership, and harassment and other gross violations of human rights, are well-documented and have been condemned worldwide. More than 650 Kashmiris have been martyred since 5 August 2019, including over 130 in the year 2022 alone.

India’s reprehensible treatment of Kashmiri journalists and human rights defenders has revealed that it would not hesitate to go to any extent for the perpetuation of its illegal occupation.

India’s illegal and unilateral actions of 5 August 2019 and those taken afterward demonstrate the sheer disregard for international law, views of the international community, and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people. Indian state-terrorism against the Kashmiris has been extensively documented through numerous reports and video evidence recorded and presented by human rights and humanitarian organizations as well as the international media.

Over the past seven decades, three generations of Kashmiris have waited for the world community and the United Nations to honor their solemn commitments made to the Kashmiris. The United Nations must live up to its promise of granting the right of self-determination to the Kashmiri people.

Pakistan has always desired peaceful relations with its neighbors, including India. Unfortunately, India’s actions and subsequent machinations have vitiated the peace and security environment in South Asia. The onus remains on India to create a conducive environment for result-oriented engagement. This is essential for durable peace and stability in the region.

The international community must demand an end to India’s gross and widespread human rights violations in IIOJK; reversal of its unilateral and illegal actions of 5 August 2019; repeal of draconian laws; and implementation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir.

On its part, Pakistan’s ultimate objective remains the peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security Council and the wishes of the Kashmiri people. In this just cause, Pakistan will always remain in strong support and solidarity with our Kashmiri brethren till the full realization of their legitimate rights.

Despite the peaceful efforts of China and Pakistan, India is persistently illegally occupying the disputed territory of J&K. People of Kashmir and their supporters protest globally almost in all world capitals and big cities on this occasion and urge the Indian Government to evacuate from J&K and exercise the legitimate right of people of Kashmir for self-determination, announced by the UN.

India has been using all brutalities and barbaric acts to suppress the people of Kashmir and has used all dirty tricks and tactics, for almost seven decades, but failed to silence the people of Kashmir. As a matter of fact, with the passage of each day, the freedom struggle gains momentum and the intensity of peaceful demonstrations and agitations is growing.

India must understand that excessive use of force and draconian laws will not have and productive impact, contrarily are counterproductive. If Seven decades, India failed to suppress them. It will never succeed in its ill-designs against the people of Kashmir. It is time for the Indian government to think wisely and leave Kashmir, the sooner the better.

Pakistan is always supporting the people of Kashmir diplomatically and politically. The UN and the International community are urged to pressurize India to the implementation of the UN resolution and give the right of self-determination to the people of Kashmir. All peace-loving nations and individuals may stand up for the people of Kashmir!

Author:  Prof. Engr. Zamir Ahmed Awan, Founding Chair GSRRA, Sinologist (ex-Diplomat), Editor, Analyst, Non-Resident Fellow of CCG (Center for China and Globalization). (E-mail: awanzamir@yahoo.com).

1 Comment

  1. True representation of IIOJK depicted in this article.
    However, United Nations Charter for the evacuation of Indian forces cannot be materialized unless, United States itself show determination for doing so. Pakistan’s stand since it’s Birth has clear terms of dialogue & nothing else. While Indian politicians did talk to visiting premiers from Pakistan, but it never reached conclusive decision.
    In this context Indian brutality with Kashmiris is known to the world well. But, leaving Kashmiris & Pakistan aside the rest of the world is also least interested as US & UN.
    The main reason behind it is the instability of political environment & financial weakness in Pakistan since it’s birth.
    It is for sure that if democratic & financial stability is achieved in Pakistan, it can itself drag the rest of world & Indians towards a Kashmir solution on table.

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