Raja Muhammad Sajjad Khan
PAKISTANI nation is observing 5th February as Kashmir Solidarity Day. This year this day has most significance and importance. After 5th August 2019 the situation in India-occupied Jammu and Kashmir had been totally changed. India had snatched the identity of Kashmir through Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Bill 2019.The status of State was changed into union territories. IoK was divided into two union territories: Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Article 35-A of the Indian Constitution was repealed to change the demography of IoK. Curfew was imposed, all means of communication were blocked and the entire pro- freedom leadership of Kashmir was sent to jail. Almost 14,000 people were arrested including children of nine-year age.
People of IoK are living in a cage. At this crucial time of Kashmiris, Government and people of Pakistan are showing solidarity with full zeal, commitment and enthusiasm. Basic purposes of observing Kashmir Solidarity Day is to reiterate continued support to oppressed people of India-occupied Kashmir and to draw the attention of the international community towards the brutalities, atrocities, crimes against humanity and gross human rights violations by Indian occupation forces in IoK. Government of Pakistan raised this issue at all international forums including United Nations and OIC. International media highlighted the situation of Kashmir as well as condemned the actions taken by Indian fascist regime. The situation of IoK was discussed and debated in several parliaments of the world. Two special meetings of United Nations Security Council were held to discuss the situation of Kashmir.
People of Pakistan have always supported the people of Jammu and Kashmir. This relation and solidarity is from the ages. People of Kashmir consider Pakistan as their destination and home. Whenever in the history people of Kashmir have to migrate due to natural disasters or autocrat rulers they chose the areas of Pakistan. During Dogra regime in Kashmir the people of Kashmir were facing oppression and atrocities, at that time All India Kashmir Committee was established by the people of Pakistan to support these oppressive people. At the time of partition in November 1947, Dogra forces, RSS and Akali Dal goons had killed almost 2, 50,000 Muslims of Jammu and about half million were forced to leave their homes. The people of Pakistan welcomed them and also provided shelter to these refugees. Now they are settled in different parts of Pakistan and their population is about 1.5 million. These refugees from Kashmir are enjoying all political, social and economic rights like other citizens of Pakistan.
Pakistan considers Kashmir as a disputed territory and this shows her commitment to honour and respect the wishes of people of Kashmir. In 1948, when India knocked the door of the United Nations and claimed that Kashmir is her integral part due to Instrument of Accession, Pakistan not only rejected her claim but pleaded the case of right to self determination of people of Kashmir. Due to diplomatic and sincere efforts of Pakistan UNSC had passed almost twenty resolutions which clearly state that the future status of Jammu and Kashmir shall be decided by the people of Kashmir through fair, free and impartial plebiscite under UN auspices. Pakistan never claimed Kashmir as its integral part. Article 257 of Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan is an example. People of Jammu and Kashmir had liberated a part of the state in 1947 and established the representative government of whole state on 24 October 1947. This government had requested Pakistan for defence, foreign affairs and communication. The slogan “Kashmir Bane Ga Pakistan” (Kashmir will accede to Pakistan) was not given by the Govt. of Pakistan, this is the slogan of people of Kashmir and they are raising this even prior to independence of Pakistan.
The people of Jammu and Kashmir had affiliated themselves with Muslim League and founder of Pakistan Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah in 1944 during his visit to Kashmir. After announcement of Partition Plan, All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference, the only political party representing Muslims of Kashmir and having overwhelming elected representatives of Muslims in Praja Sabha, had passed “Accession to Pakistan Resolution” on 19 July 1947. Two other political parties which were also representing Hindus and Sikhs, Kisan Mazdur Conference and Kashmir Socialist Party had passed accession to Pakistan resolutions on 05 September and 18 September respectively. Independence Day of Pakistan, 14 August 1947, was observed with waiving of flags of Pakistan and celebrations throughout Kashmir. The new phase of freedom struggle in IoK was started in 1988; India had deployed almost 800,000 occupation forces. In the presence of these forces, people of IoK are chanting slogans “Pakistan Zindabad (Long Live Pakistan), Ham Pakistani Hain, Pakistan Hamara Ha (We are Pakistani – Pakistan is ours), waiving flag of Pakistan and buried in flag of Pakistan.
The love and affiliation of people of Kashmir with Pakistan is due to the commitment of Pakistan and devotion with the people of Kashmir. Pakistan always supported the just cause of Kashmir. Pakistan Army is defending Azad Kashmir, protecting lives and honour of people and also provides every possible support in natural and other disasters, whereas Indian occupation forces are snatching life, liberty, honour, property and identity of the people of IoK. People of Pakistan always support the Kashmir cause and feel the pain of Kashmiris like their own. Government of Pakistan is providing every possible support for development of Kashmir. At this stage, when India is trying to merge IoK, Pakistan Government has empowered the people of Azad Kashmir through 13th Amendment. A strong, prosperous and developed Pakistan is in the interest of the people of Kashmir as well as for peace and stability in the region.
—The writer is PhD (Law) Scholar at IIU, Islamabad.
