UNRESOLVED Kashmir issue between two nuclear states remains a major threat to South Asian peace. Indian hostile approach in illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir is an impediment to the peaceful solution of the issue as well as transformed into a wider regional threat. Four years back, what transpired in illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir in the form of forced abrogation of statehood status is a true reflection of BJP’s hostile mindset. This unwise manoeuvre is being opposed at multiple tiers. Kashmiris, being the main stakeholders on either side of LoC, have unanimously rejected this move for understandable reasons. Pakistan has always been insisting upon holding a free and fair plebiscite according to the true spirit of UN resolutions.
The 5th of August act of forced conversion of illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir into union territory has further endorsed the concerns of Pakistan about harsh intentions of India. Implications of forced annexation are beyond bi-lateral Indo-Pakistan context as China too rejected the conversion of Ladakh region into union territory. Though, India is trying to portray herself as darling of the West and making cunning moves to divert international attention from the unrest in illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, yet the disputed status of the region continues to flash on international forums. Article-25 of the UN Charter binds India and Pakistan to implement the Resolution Number 47 adopted by UNSC in 1948. This mother resolution along with its connected resolutions explicitly urge a free and fair plebiscite to settle the dispute according to the will of Kashmiris.
A unilateral annexation of disputed territory is an open violation of the UN Charter. It is not even justifiable under the much controversial spirit of the Indian Constitution about the special statehood status of illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir. In the presence of Article-370, none of the Indian legislation could be implemented in the illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir without the approval of the State Assembly. While abrogating Article-370, BJP neglected this very aspect that no elected representative assembly was there in illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Prior to bulldozing the statehood, BJP ensured the dismantling of the puppet government led by Mehbooba Mufti.
Obviously, the abrogation manoeuvre lacks any kind of support from the Kashmiri masses as evident from persistent criticism from former CMs who had been traditionally pro-New Delhi in all practical manifestations. Abrogation of Article-35A is another major worry for all Kashmiri stakeholders as it has opened the corridor for BJP to accelerate the demographic change agenda. Jammu is the region where, in the first phase, BJP aims to alter the demography with a huge influx of non-resident Hindus. Despite differences on political strategy, all Kashmiri quarters are united against abrogation and demographic change manoeuvres of BJP. To deal with this challenge, BJP hawks are active on multiple fronts. On the internal front, violence and fabricated allegations of terrorism are the time-tested weapons to oppress the peaceful unarmed Kashmiris.
On the external front, India is trying to distort the ground realities by blaming Pakistan for cross-border terrorism and continuously portraying false normalcy in illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Besides this, India is vigorously utilizing her strategic alignment with the West and economic potential to create a softer corner in the international community on the burning issues of human rights violations, minority persecution, Islamophobia and illegal manoeuvres in occupied territory of Jammu and Kashmir. India is not at all ready to deal with the Kashmir issue through diplomatic and political tools. India’s Kashmir strategy revolves around violence and diplomatic bluff. Post- abrogation situation in illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir is enough evidence to ascertain the anti-Kashmiri approach of the BJP regime.
Illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed the worst communication shutdowns, human rights violations, brutal fake encounters, forced burials and sham trials. Though, BJP is more focused on coercing the Muslims and Kashmiris are understandably at top of their target list, yet it is only the beginning. BJP and its allied extremist factions are not going to settle so easily with the Muslim coercion as the ultimate objective would remain unfulfilled until conversion of India into a ‘Hindu Rashtra’. Horrific developments emerging from Manipur and Haryana need to be seen in the correct perspective to identify the threats posed by BJP on internal and external fronts.
Keeping this context in mind, one can easily comprehend the larger designs of BJP and its violent manifestation in illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Worldwide protests against unilateral forced abrogation under the title of ‘Yom-e Istehsal’ on every 5 August is just a knock on the international conscience. Violation of UN Charter, unilateral alteration of disputed region’s status, illegal demographic engineering, HRVs, militarization of LAC vis a vis LoC, media curbs, minority persecution and marginalization of scheduled castes must not be neglected for geo-political interests. Inhuman oppressive state-sponsored acts in illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir await global accountability.
—The writer is contributing columnist, based in Islamabad.
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