The death of Burhan Wani, a prominent Kashmiri activist, sent a blast wave throughout the region and brought the long-standing conflict in IIOJK to the forefront of international attention. Wani was truly a hero, his death on July 8, 2016, sparked widespread protests in IIOJK, leading to another wave of vio-lence by Indian occupational forces in the region. He played a game-changing role in the struggle of IIOJK against India.
Burhan Wani was born on July 7, 1994, in South Kashmir. Despite belonging to a relatively well-off family, he treaded the path of a civic activist at a young age after witnessing the frequent attacks of Indian brutal army on innocent Kashmiris. At the age of 15, he started to raise his voice against the aggressive Indian forces. Soon he was known as a brave Kashmir activist, gaining recognition for his mesmerizing personality and passionate speeches. Social media platforms became his means of spread-ing his message of opposition to Indian occupation and motivating others to join the cause. His ability to connect with IIOJK youth, who recognized him as a symbol of resistance against Indian oppression, made him a prominent figure within the freedom movement. He used social media platforms to spread his message and recruit more individuals to join the cause.
On July 8, 2016, a joint operation by the Indian occupational forces, including the army, police, and paramilitary, tracked down and martyred Burhan Wani in Kokernag area of South Kashmir’s Islama-bad district. The news of his death spread rapidly, and thousands of people gathered for his funeral, despite strict curfews imposed by the authorities. The funeral procession turned into a massive protest, with mourners shouting slogans against the Indian government and demanding freedom.
Burhan’s death witnessed a significant escalation of violence in the region with many people killed and injured by Indian forces. As a result of the curfew in the valley, the internet was shut down and many other restrictions were also imposed and it was banned for a long time. Moreover, the violence by Indian forces continued for months, resulting in a sense of insecurity and fear among the masses.
The death of Burhan Wani was seen as a sig-nificant loss for the IIOJK freedom movement and a cause of concern about the human rights situation in the territory. Burhan Wani is a martyr and a symbol of struggle against Indian occupation. His death is a result of Indian coercion and excessive use of force against IIOJK civilians. Government of Pakistani condemned Burhan Wani’s killing and expressed solidarity with the people of IIOJK.
His death at the hands of Indian army highlights the broader issue of human rights violations in Kashmir and the need for international attention and intervention. The case that Indian occupational forces have been using cruel tactics, including arbitrary detonation, and the use of bullet and pellet guns, this caused damage to the citizens.
Pakistan persistently raised the IIOJK matter with prominent UN officials and submitted letters to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and the President of the United Nations Security Council, expressing deep concerns regarding the violation of human rights in IIOJK following the tragic death of Burhan.
Pakistan’s government has consistently made efforts to raise the Kashmir dispute at the international forums, arguing that the world community should intervene to ensure the rights of the IIOJK people are protected.
[The writer Ayesha is an Intern at YFK- Interna-tional Kashmir Lobby Group, and a student of In-ternational Relation at International Islamic Univer-sity Islamabad.]
