KASHMIRIS’ love for Pakistan is evident from their actions before its creation. On July 19, 1947, the people of Jammu and Kashmir unanimously adopted a resolution for the State’s accession to the future nation of Pakistan. Prominent Kashmiri leaders Khawaja Ghulam-ud-Din Wani and Abdul Rahim Wani moved the resolution during an emergency session of the All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference in Srinagar. With Pakistan set to become a reality for South Asia’s Muslims on August 14, 1947, the Kashmiri leadership swiftly completed the necessary legal formalities for the State’s accession to their dreamland, Pakistan.
The State of Jammu and Kashmir and the areas that constitute Pakistan today have a historical relationship that dates back centuries. This relationship is rooted in the shared history of these two regions, which has evolved into one of interdependency. Religion, common culture, shared ancestry, migrations and intermarriages have further strengthened the bond between the people on both sides. Additionally, the geopolitics of Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan provide another compelling factor that essentially unites these areas. All natural routes to various parts of Jammu and Kashmir originate from Pakistan. The only link India exploited in 1947, through Gurdaspur (Pathankot), was an unnatural one, manipulated by India through the Radcliffe Award by dividing Punjab in violation of the rules of partition of India.
As per the Indian Partition Plan (June 3, 1947), Kashmir was to become part of Pakistan, based on the wish of the people and geographical contiguity of the State with Pakistan. The people of Jammu and Kashmir with an overwhelming Muslim population (77%) were deprived of their basic right to decide their future, thus rose to occasion and revolted against the Ruler of the State, Maharaja Hari Singh. Kashmir 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 it as “Azad Jammu and Kashmir”. This portion was to act as the base camp for the liberation of the rest of the 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 a forceful military occupation of the State on October 27, 1947 which is continuing even today after seventy-six years.
Over the last seventy-four years, Kashmiri did not reconcile with the Indian rule over their State and revolted many a time against forceful Indian occupation. During the on-going struggle of Kashmir started in 1990 over 100,000 Kashmiri people lost their lives at the hands of brutal Indian forces. Over 900,000 Indian Military and its paramilitary forces are continuing with their brutalities in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). Indian security forces have total impunity under the discriminatory and inhuman laws, India specially imposed ever since the 1990s. Despite heavy Indian military deployment in IIOJK and unilateral and illegal relegation of the status of IIOJK in August 2019, it could not defeat the will of Kashmiris for attainment of their right of self-determination.
Over the years, the political dispute of 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 Jammu and Kashmir. This is indeed the darkest aspect of India, which the 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, there has been no action against India on those accounts. Rather, the major powers are enhancing their political and economical linkages with India.
Kashmiris are determined to get their right of self-determination to ultimately join Pakistan. On its part, India has started a wave of terror in IIOJK with the sole objective of defeating the will of Kashmiris. Nevertheless, India is endangering regional peace in the South Asian region. It is essential that for regional peace in South Asia, India under the BJP Government should reassess its aggressive acts and massive human rights violations. India must understand that resolution of the Kashmir dispute is essential for peace and stability in South Asia. This dispute has to be resolved as per their wishes of Kashmiris and in the light of UN resolutions.
On July 19, 1947, the people of Jammu and Kashmir made a historic decision of State’s accession with Pakistan and since then India is punishing Kashmiris for their love with Pakistan. Upon completion of 76 years of their accession with Pakistan, Kashmiris of IIOJK demand fulfillment of their legitimate right. They demand from the UN and all international forums to help them in the solution of the Kashmir dispute as per UN resolutions; to exercise their free will for the right of self-determination. Indeed, resolution of the Kashmir dispute will bring peace, stability and economic development in South Asia. Peace in South Asia would greatly contribute towards international peace and certainty in the era of globalization. In order to mobilize the civilized international community, Pakistan must highlight the humanitarian dimension of the Kashmir dispute where India is involved in the massive human rights violations of Kashmiris in IIOJK.
— The writer is Professor of Politics and IR at International Islamic University, Islamabad.
