IIOJK: A failure of peacekeepers?

At present, Human rights violations by Indian occupying forces are touching the sky, which is a serious threat to regional peace and stability. In these circumstances, it is very unfortunate that; international human rights organizations and leadership have kept a blind eye to Indian atrocities in Indian illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) for their economic or other interests with India. 

Universal Declaration of Human rights (UDHR) 1948, urges to protect the “foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.”On contrary to that, its signatory country India is committing gross human rights violations in illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the people of India illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) have been subjected to the worst atrocities by Indian occupational forces in seven decades. The BJP regime under Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s (RSS)ideology has started a reign of state-sponsored terrorism and brutal killings to fulfill extremist ambitions.

Since, 5th August 2019, Indian troops martyred around five hundred Kashmiris’ in India illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Whereas, dozens of Kashmiri youth had been martyred under the guise of “fake encounters” by occupation forces. In a fresh act of skyrocketing atrocities in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) five more youth had martyred under the guise of so-called cordon and search operation, and the number of extrajudicial killings goes at least around thirty in January alone.

Read more: What is Kashmir’s legal status under Modi regime?

The never-ending atrocities in Kashmir

According to a report, in the occupied valley, four hundred eighty-seven (487) people were injured as a result of “brutal use of force against protesters”.While two thousand seven hundred sixteen (2,716) people including human rights activist Khurram Pervez were arrested in raids and crackdowns by Indian troops and police last year. Moreover, most of these arrests are charged under black draconian laws, the Public Safety Act (PSA), and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Additionally, Sixty-seven residential houses were subjected to Arson crimes by Indian forces in the occupied valley during 2021.

On the other side, the Indian fascist regime has been precluded the Muslims of the valley to perform Friday prayers at the historic mosque “Jama Masjid” in Srinagar from straight 46 weeks, including other religious activities. The Resistance leaders including second to none Dr QasimFaktoo (Asia’s longest-serving prisoner) and SyedaAsiyaandrabi are incarcerated in Delhi’s Tihar Jail in “false cases”. The repealing of Articles 370 and 35A of the Constitution is another darkest chapter in the history of the occupied valley.

It is worthy to mention here, that Stoke White, a London-based law firm, filed a petition with British police on January 18, 2022. Wherein, the firm demanded the arrest of the Indian Defence Minister, Army Chief and a few other Indian officials for their alleged involvement in war crimes. According to the law firm, it submitted conclusive evidence to the Metropolitan Police’s War Crimes Unit, documenting how Indian forces under the command of General Manoj Makand Nirvana and Interior Minister Amit Shah misused the power to overwhelm the voices in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). Meanwhile, the firm’s report was based on more than two thousand (2,000) testimonies taken between 2020 and 2021. The petition also alleges that eight unidentified senior Indian military personnel were directly involved in war crimes and violence.

Moreover, the petition said; “There is strong reason to believe that the Indian authorities are committing war crimes and other acts of violence against civilians in Jammu and Kashmir”. Though, it is clear that the Khurram Pervez has been arrested by the Indian occupying forces for exposing their gross systematic human rights violations in the occupied valley. It is not only the first time occupying forces tried to suppress the voices but also in the recent past Indian police used innocent civilians as “human shields” during a search operation on November 15, 2021.

Read more: KFC, Pizza Hut forced to apologize in India after posts on Kashmir

What is the future of such human rights violations?

It should be noted, For the last seven decades, the people of occupied Jammu and Kashmir are demanding independence of the region from Indian illegal occupation, which is their birthright to choose whether they live independently or accession with Pakistan. But, on the contrary to that, The Indian occupying forces brutally martyred thousands of people, and most civilians to suppress the legitimate demands of the people of Indian illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) instead of implementing the UN resolution. In this regard, for the first time the Fascist regime of India has been booked in the legal petition for the worst human rights violations (war Crimes) in India illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) by Stoke White.

At present, Human rights violations by Indian occupying forces are extremely touching the sky, which is a serious threat to regional peace and stability. In these circumstances, it is very unfortunate that; international human rights organizations and leadership have kept a blind eye to Indian atrocities in Indian illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) for their economic or other interests with India.

Unfortunately, due to the hypocrisy of world powers, innocent Kashmiris are being lived in the dark age of subjugation, the criminalized silence on Indian State-sponsored terrorism and war crimes like demographic changes are the most eye-opener evidence of the bigotry of world powers.

Given the situation on the ground and the indigenous freedom struggle in India illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), the only solution lies in holding a plebiscite under the UN resolutions to decide the fate and destiny of the people of the occupied valley. There is a dire need to advance the efforts to aid the people of Kashmir in pursuit of their pledged right to self-determination. Now it is the high time to do, lingering for next forty to fifty years in holding free and fair plebiscite will not in favor of Kashmiris, due to Indian designed demographic policy.

Read more: India calls to boycott Hyundai for allegedly supporting Kashmir

I propose three strands strategy

Firstly, Political cohesiveness must be on the Kashmir issue to take the case forefront of the global community. Secondly, Pakistan’s moral support in the digital world like Twitter and other elite apps must be strong enough to reflect and convince the Kashmiris that they are not alone in their birthright struggle, the use of digital apps are undeniable modus operandi to resolve the issues in the modern world. This will keep the charge up the incarcerated Kashmiris in high spirits.

Additionally, mainstream media must play a pivotal role in exposing the Indian atrocities in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). Thirdly, The Foreign Ministry must establish special desks to enhance the intelligentsia about Kashmiris’ struggle and sacrifices for the right to self-determination pledged by UNSC Resolutions. The central objective of the strategy is the apprised global community that how Human rights abuses being inflicted on the people of India illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmiris (IIOJK) by fascist Modi led RSS régime.

In conclusion, the time is running at the speed of the jet, Indian atrocities are touching the heights of the sky in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmiris (IIOJK). The issue is turning into a nuclear triggering spot between two nuclear-armed countries that can detonate anytime with the greatest debacle in the region. So, the world peacekeepers have to do TWO things on a priority basis. First, declare the use of the Armed Forces (Jammu and Kashmir) Special Powers Act, 1990 as “void” and unhuman. Second, revisit the situation to maintain world peace and stability. The world must act fast yes fast. Otherwise, in case of any misadventure, the repercussions would be not only in South Asian politics but as a whole.

 

 

The writer is a freelance columnist. He writes articles for many Urdu and English publications and web channels. He covers IIOJK affairs.  He Tweets at @MAkhter_. The views expressed in the article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Global Village Space.