KASHMIRI’S love for Pakistan can be imagined from the fact that, before it came into being; they decided to become part of Pakistan. On July 19, 1947, the people of Jammu and Kashmir unanimously adopted a resolution for the accession of the state with the future state of Pakistan. The prominent Kashmir leaders Khawaja Ghulam-ud-Din Wani and Abdul Rahim Wani moved the resolution in the emergency session of the All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference held in Srinagar. Since Pakistan was to become a reality for the Muslim of South Asia on August 14, 1947, therefore Kashmiri leadership hurriedly completed the needed legal formalities of state’s accession with their dreamland, Pakistan. Historically, the State of Jammu and Kashmir and the areas constitute Pakistan today had deep-rooted relationship. This relationship have rooted in the joint history of these two areas over the years and later turned into a relationship of interdependency. Religion, common culture, joint races, migrations and inter-marriages further cemented this bond between the people of two sides. Besides, these linkages, geopolitics of Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan are another compelling factor which essentially unites these areas. Geographically, all natural routes to various parts of the Jammu and Kashmir are from Pakistan. The only link, India exploited in 1947, through Gurdaspur (PathanKot) was an un-natural link, which India manipulated through Radcliff Award by dividing Punjab in violation to the rules of partition of India. As per the Indian partition plan (June 3, 1947), Kashmir was to become part of Pakistan, based on two principle factors; a) the will of the masses and b) geographical contiguity of the state with Pakistan. The people of Jammu and Kashmir with overwhelming Muslim population (80%) were deprived from their basic right to decide their future, thus rose to occasion and revolted against then Ruler of the State, Maharaja Hari Singh.Kashmiri volunteers organized themselves into Kashmiri irregular forces and liberated a portion of the state from the regular forces of Maharaja Hari Singh. They also established their own government and named that it “Azad Jammu and Kashmir” on October 24, 1947. This part of Jammu and Kashmir was to act as the base camp for the liberation of rest of state from Indian occupation. Indeed, Hari Singh wanted to keep the state independent and even negotiated the Stand Still agreements with Pakistan and India.
Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Indian Prime Minister, ordered forceful military occupation of the state on October 27, 1947 which is continuing even today after seventy-six years. But, Kashmiri did not reconcile with the Indian rule over their state and revolted many a time against Indian occupation. The current phase of Kashmiri’s freedom struggle started in 1990 and continuing despite massive Indian military deployment and atrocities. The 900,000 Indian military deployed in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) have killed over 100,000 Kashmiri and raped over 12000 women folk besides other brutalities, arrests, arsons and destruction of Kashmiris’ houses and properties. Indian security forces have total impunity under the discriminatory and inhuman laws, India specially imposed in IIOJK ever since 1990s.
In violations of UN resolutions and its own constitution, India revoked the special status of IIOJK in August 2019 which means re-occupation of the state. Nevertheless, India could not defeat the will of Kashmiris for attainment of their right of self-determination. Failing in its all strategies, India overtly inhabits non Kashmiris in IIOJK for making demographic changes in the occupied state. Over the years, the political dispute of Jammu and Kashmir has become a humanitarian issue, since there have been massive human rights violations in IIOJK by Indian security forces. In fact, there is a state sponsored terrorism going on in IIOJK since 1990. There is an organized campaign of genocide going on against the people of Indian occupied Kashmir. This is indeed the darkest aspect of India, which civilized international community is constantly ignoring.
Although, United Nations, Amnesty International and many other human rights organizations have been raising the issue of Indian human rights violations in Kashmir, but there have been no action against India on those accounts. Rather, the major powers are enhancing their political and economic linkages with India. This is an unfortunate aspect of international politics. The ceasefire line cannot be made as a border between India and Pakistan, since Kashmiris will never surrender from their right of self-determination. Indeed, without resolution of the Kashmir as per the aspiration of Kashmiris, there will be no peace between India and Pakistan and in South Asia. India must understand that, its act of August 5, 2019 and making demographic changes in IIOJK is not the solution of Kashmir. Rather, it is further complicating the nature of dispute.
On July 19, 1947 the people of entire state of Jammu and Kashmir made a historic and unwavering decision of State’s accession with Pakistan. On October 24, 1947 they rose to implement this verdict of the people and established Azad Kashmir Government. Today after passage of seventy-six years, Kashmiris stand by this historical decision. India is punishing them for their love with Pakistan. There is an immediate need that, UNO and international community are reminded of their promises for giving Kashmiris their right of self-determination. The Government of Pakistan must reach over to all international forums for pursuing Kashmir’s right of self-determination. Indeed, resolution of Kashmir dispute will bring peace and economic prosperity in entire South Asia.
.— The writer is Professor of Politics and IR at International Islamic University, Islamabad.
Email: [email protected]
