Rafique Ahmed Qureshi
THE illegally Occupied Indian Jammu and Kashmir has become a nerve-center of political and social oppression being committed by the illegally deployed Indian Military forces. The ascension of Narendra Modi—a symbol of terror and the flag-bearer of Hindutva ideology, has further added an insult to the unending injuries of the miserable plight of innocent Kashmiris. The fascist regime of Narendra Modi slumped into the zenith of political vandalism when it abrogated, on 5 August 2019, Articles 370 and 35-A, that had guaranteed a special status to Kashmiris living under the clutches of Indian domination. The incumbent government, after changing the legal status of IIOJ&K, had imposed curfew, and has imposed slew of laws that depicts a strategically planned program of Indian colonialism in the occupied Kashmir. The instances of such multifaceted oppression in the modern world are certainly minimum in other parts of the world.
A populist regime, cloaked in the window-dressing of ‘secularism’ and ‘pluralistic democracy’, is undeniably a stain on the world’s conscience. Hence the establishment of the United Nations Organizations, and its hitherto mandate as a consensual international organization, was certainly aimed, as mentioned in its charter, to promote an indiscriminate equality and dignity among humans so that they could thrive and contribute to international peace and security. The unending story of oppression and its peaceful resolution is certainly a litmus test for the existence and relevance of contemporary world order. In the backdrop of rising multipolarity, and the potential emergence of China as the leading player of new world order, it is pertinent for the flag-bearers of contemporary liberal world order to pay a heed to the miseries of innocent Kashmiris.
Currently, the status of human security in IIOJ&K, especially political and social security, is troublesome. Political security stands for the availability of a level playing field where people hailing from different backgrounds, or political parties having different electoral manifestos, have the freedom, security and the right to dissent, so that they could give their input in entire electoral process, and, resultantly, to mobilize the masses behind their political agenda. But the incumbent government led by Narendra Modi has stifled the political voices of indigenous Kashmiris. For instance, direct rule of the central government has been imposed in the valley. Similarly, a recent study published in DAWN had argued that the alliance of National Conference and People’s Democratic Party have been harassed and threatened. A year on since the revocation of legal status of Kashmir, the situation of individual and personal security is quite worrisome.
According to Human Rights Watch, hundreds of people have been detained without charges. Enforced disappearances and sexual abuses are on the rise.With 800,000 troops deployed into Kashmir, the valley has turned into the largest open-air prison. The youth have been especially targeted by the forces. Sudden raids at night, intruding into houses and breaking the sanctity of homes show the grim situation of personal security of the people of Kashmir. To hide their true colours of a fascist regime, defenders of human rights such as Amnesty International came under the state’s wrath as well. A place where international organizations are not safe and free to function, will the champion of a just and free society, the US and its supported international organization – UN – be able to claim dear superiority of democratic values? or will the declining power of liberal world order pave the way for serious genocidal attempt by the Modi-led fascist regime!
The emergence of the United Nations as an institution, based on the values purported by liberal world order, has failed to implement its Security Council resolutions to solve the Kashmir issue. However, Kashmir now presents a ‘window of opportunity’ for the declining power of liberal world order. The declining power of the United States, evaporating confidence of the states from global institutions and the rise of a global competitor China, the liberal world order stands at the cusp of downfall. To regain its lost cause, confidence in its global institutions and primacy of the United States as a responsible global actor, the Kashmir issue certainly presents an opportunity to achieve it all. It will also be a litmus test for the newly elected Biden Administration. If the international community exploits this opportunity and paves the way for resolving the Kashmir issue based on UNSC resolutions, the hopes for liberal world order to reassert itself would be alive and well. However, if the potential ‘window of opportunity’ is missed, it could prove to be a final nail in the coffin of the liberal institutions in safeguarding the most vocal aspect of dignity “Human Rights” and “Human Security” of the Kashmiri people.
—The writer is Director General, Human Security Institute, Islamabad.
