Malik Ashraf
REPORTEDLY four special rapporteurs of UN have sent a report to the Indian government over the continued deterioration of human rights conditions in occupied Kashmir documenting several cases of arbitrary detentions, violations of the prohibition of torture, ill-treatment and pummelling rights of people belonging to minorities, particularly Muslims. They also expressed regret that they had received no response to two earlier communications sent to the Indian government in 16 August 2019 and February 2020. The rapporteurs have also asked the Indian government to investigate the alleged torture and custodial killings of several Muslim men since January 2019. In the report shared on website of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OCHCR), they said, “We remain deeply concerned about the ongoing human rights violations” The foregoing contents of the report not only depict the horrendous act of ethnic cleansing by the Indian security forces but also the disdainful arrogance of the Indian authorities in not responding to the UN communications, because they feel that with the support of their western strategic partners, they can get away with whatever they do in IO&JK like Israel in Palestine. It is pertinent to point out that two reports on human rights situation in IO&JK compiled by OCHCR had also corroborated blatant violation of human rights by the Indian security forces suggesting the constitution of a UN Inquiry Commission to hold a thorough probe in the matter. Regrettably no progress has been made in that regard so far.
Ever since the launch of freedom movement by Kashmiris in 1989 to win their freedom and the right to self-determination, the Indian security forces have killed more than one hundred people there, mostly civilians and raped thousands of women. Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and other human rights organizations have been regularly compiling reports on the extra-judicial killings and blatant violation of human rights. The international media in spite of lack of access to the valley has also been reporting acts of bestiality by the Indian security forces, including the massacre of 53 people in Sopore on 6 July 1993. The media has also come up with detailed reports on the plight of besieged Kashmiris and continued killings in IO&JK since 5 August. Pakistan government has also been sensitizing the world and the UN about the snow-balling crisis in IO&JK and the likely repercussions of the actions of Modi government.
One wonders where are the champions of human rights and right of self-determination who lose no opportunity to cry hoarse from every convenient roof-top to condemn the alleged human rights situation in China and her promulgation of the Security Law in Hong Kong which they perceive oppressive in regards to the fundamental rights of its citizens?. Their criminal indifference to the situation in the India-occupied Kashmir to protect their strategic and commercial interests surely denudes the myth about their humanitarian credentials. Their material interests are dearer to them than human rights and humanitarian causes enshrined in the UN Charter and Universal Declaration of Human Rights. They raise hue and cry on their violations only when it suits their interests. It will not be wrong to say that these powers, particularly USA has been responsible and connected to almost all the conflicts around the world in which hundreds and thousands of people have been killed, what to speak of their human rights.
It is a world of the powerful. Human rights and internationally recognized principles as enshrined in the UN Charter as well as diplomacy are all bullshit. It is the worth and strength of a country or group of countries that carries the day. It is amply corroborated by the behaviour of USA and its allies who have shown no respect for them whenever they decided that it was in their strategic and national interest to defy them. Their power and status is such that they can manipulate things their way even at the UN and other international forums where they use their coercive clout to win support for their imperialist actions. I am sure that what the Modi government did in IO&JK on 5 August, its annexation to the Indian Union, continued lockdown and persistence with extra-judicial killings, has a nod of approval from the USA and her allies which are building strategic partnership with India to promote their interests in this region and Asia Pacific. India is being rewarded for her role in promoting the objective of their ‘contain China Policy’. People of Kashmir are victim of global politics and the supremacist ideology of BJP government headed by Narendra Modi. If principles and diplomacy really mattered in the management of international affairs, the way Pakistan conducted its diplomatic offensive and sensitized the world about human rights situation in IOJ&K and warned the UN and the international community about the threats to peace and security in the region, the world would have sprung into action to stop India in her tracks and used its pressure to have the UN resolutions implemented. The reality is that the UN was created by the triumphant nations of the World War-II and the charter drawn by them was actually meant to promote their own interests and fashion the world accordingly. As a result the smaller and weaker nations have always been on the receiving end and looked upon their benign support for their causes. No wonder then that these powers have been very discreet in doing that.
— The writer is freelance columnist based in Islamabad.
