Dr Muhammad Khan
THE world generally remains insensitive to the continuous siege and curfew in the
India-occupied Jammu and Kashmir since last over a month. This mysterious silence of international community over the unprecedented human rights violations in occupied Kashmir put a question mark over the fairness, neutrality and indisputability of the global civilized society. This is a clear indication that the power centres at the international level still hold and influence the opinion of their masses, otherwise considered to be the rational, humanistic and advocate of human rights. At the global level, this callousness towards Kashmir and Kashmiris which Indian Government has actually converted into a prison without food and medical care is an indication that global standard of human rights and humanity are dedicated to selective faiths, designated communities, specific races and certain areas and individuals. The worst part of this inconsiderateness is that Muslims of the occupied Jammu and Kashmir are the real target of Indian brutality and Muslims of the Arab world are decorating the Indian Prime Minister who is known as the killer of the Muslims in India.
This speaks of downfall of Muslim world, which is being exploited by global power centres; owing to lack of providence, the imprudent luxurious form of life driven by other’s directives. While not uttering a single word against Indian actions in occupied Kashmir, especially the post-August 5, 2019 Indian ruthlessness, it is unclear as what message Muslim world especially the GCC States wanted to give to Muslims in general and Kashmiris in particular. But, except symbolic concerns by the so-called OIC, no Muslim State demanded India to end the siege and lift the curfew from India-occupied State of Jammu & Kashmir. Indeed, Muslim world except two states are encouraging Israel to expand into and annex the Palestinian land. Today, the illegal State of Israel is acceptable to Arab world, but, poor homeless and legal Palestinian State and its Muslim population is not acceptable to their brothers in Arab. The Israeli influence over Arabs has now brought them closer to India. These Arabs support India on the directives of Israel and may be owing to their material gains. Therefore, the concept of Muslim Ummah, which people in Pakistan had conceived right from the beginning since it is an ideological state, is not visible anywhere among the Muslim world. Pakistan and Pakistani interests have not been valued since decades by the Muslims world.
During this inhuman and unprecedented siege of occupied Kashmir, Pakistan and Kashmiris needed a fair response from international community, especially the Muslim world. Over a month has passed without any let up in the siege and curfew, neither the UN nor the civilized international community has condemned the Indian acts and seriously asked India to lift the curfew and let the world know, how have been they (Kashmiris) treated in the last five weeks. It is to be noted that since August 5, 2019, there is a total blackout, media blockade, no communication and people are starved in the IoK. Kashmiris would never accept their state to be ruled by aliens, since they have not accepted alien rule for the last 72 years. Besides being invader, India is an alien country for the Kashmiri masses. In these long seven decades, they lost everything; their loved ones, their property, their youth, their houses, their traditions and above all honour at the hands of brutal Indian Army and paramilitary forces.
Indian decision of dividing the State into parts, making as Indian Union territories is not acceptable to Kashmiris at all. They will resist and fight against this illegal, immoral and inhuman Indian decision. This fear of fight back by Kashmiris is obliging New Delhi not to end the siege and lift the curfew from the occupied state. But, should this practice continue indefinitely? This is the question from UNO and world community; do we really have human rights of Kashmiris too? This must be understood that unilateral Indian abrogation of Articles 370 and 35-A is against its own constitution, constitution of IoK and above all, a negation of UNSC Resolutions. Kashmiris are not asking for the restoration of these Articles, but they are asking for their right of self-determination under UN and no Indian annexation of their State. Kashmiris unanimously view that LoC cannot and will not form a permanent border. This would not resolve Kashmir dispute nor would bring peace between India and Pakistan. The Government of Pakistan must realize that legally, Pakistan stands at higher position than India to pursue the Kashmir dispute at the UNSC, ICJ and United Nations Commission on Human Rights on behalf of Kashmiris. Let’s move forward from the traditional rhetoric of moral, diplomatic and political support of Kashmiris. Let’s make serious efforts and take exclusive steps to end the siege and lift the curfew from India-occupied Kashmir in the first instance.
— The writer, a retired Brig, is Professor of Politics and International Relations at International Islamic University, Islamabad.
