Kashmir black day is observed every year on 27th October in Pakistan and Kashmir in commemoration of the matchless sacrifices made by freedom fighters of occupied Kashmir against inhumane and illegal occupation by India. Literally, the Indian government, on 27 October 1947, illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir; therefore, observing this day is meant to condemn and denounce that illegitimate and despotic usurpation of Kashmir by India.
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On this day, rallies are organized across Pakistan, to extend solidarity with Kashmiri brothers and sisters to stand up with them in these difficult times. Kashmir issue is raised in front of the world by highlighting innumerable atrocities of Indian troops and upholding the Kashmiris’ right to self-determination, on this very day.
Pakistan’s efforts to resolve Kashmir conflict
Pakistan has left no stone unturned in raising its voice for the emancipation of occupied Kashmir from the clutches of India’s atrocities on almost all international forums. Recently, Pakistan has too expedited its diplomatic efforts to convince international community to draw their special attention towards the issue of Kashmir.
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In this regard, Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, tried hard to convene ministerial meeting of OIC members in order to reach a durable solution to the Kashmir issue. PM Imran Khan, on the seventy fifth session of UN General Assembly, highlighted the Kashmir issue in his speech on a priority basis, demanding the world leaders to take Kashmir issue in their due consideration. Whether it is a meeting of SCO or that of SAARC, Kashmir issue doesn’t go unnoticed.
How it started
The major cause behind Kashmir conflict which triggered this crisis was the wrongful signing of a document named “Instrument of accession” by Hari Sing of the princely state of Kashmir on 26 October 1946, in which he agreed to accede to Indian dominion.
Severe humanitarian violations have assumed a form of dreadful picture in occupied Kashmir.
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Apart from that, Maharaja’s immoral and deceitful accession to Indian dominion was later accepted by the then viceroy Lord Mountbatten. More to their hypocrisy, this princely state of Kashmir was intentionally left undecided, with false promises of holding a referendum on it to decide its future accession either to Pakistan or India by the British government at the time of the partition on August 1947, but unluckily no such promise was fulfilled by them and they left Kashmir to smolder.
Kashmir under Modi’s India
Moreover, in an attempt to convert Muslim population into a minority, Modi led BJP government, on 5th-August-2019, had unlawfully and illegitimately annexed the disputed state of Kashmir to India by allegedly abrogating Article 370 and 35A, the former of which grants occupied people of Kashmir an autonomous status to form their own government in order to run internal affairs of the state and the latter serves them as shield that restrains and restricts the people from India to buy land and properties and setting up their businesses within the area of occupied Kashmir. This constitutional deception by Indian government has once again rekindled the issue of Kashmir which is equivalent to rubbing salt on the wounds of thousands of Kashmiris.
Deplorably, UN, the world’s largest organization, has utterly failed in settling the Kashmir dispute
The insurgency in Kashmir is still active even in the wake of Covid-19. Every new day, the increasingly aggravated situation in held Kashmir is catching more attention of the world, making it a global issue. Severe humanitarian violations have assumed a form of dreadful picture in occupied Kashmir. The tightening blockade of Kashmir and heavy curfew for last 15 months has made lives of 9 million Muslims miserable.
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Presumably, 14 thousand people have been arrested amidst this inhumane besiege. Likewise, number of Hurriyat leaders including Syed Ali Gilani continue to remain under house detention.
Hundreds of people are routinely subjected to torture and baton charge by Indian deployed troops
Reports depict that Indian troops have martyred 214 and injured 1390 people during continuous siege for last fifteen months in addition to approximately 95647 life casualties that have been recorded from 1989 till date. The troops injured 10,240 by pellet guns and have blinded over five dozen, while the eyesight of 385 people was damaged.
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Moreover, 3400 people are reported to have been disappeared since the eruption of insurgency in Kashmir. It has been reported that more than 900 Kashmiri women have become a victim of gang-rapes by Indian forces till date. Modi’s government is adamantly sustaining the annexation of held Kashmir, continuing the curfew, persecuting Kashmiris and granting no relief to the oppressed people even during Covid-19.
Furthermore, scarcity of food and medicine has badly worsened the lives of people in Kashmir. Hundreds of people are routinely subjected to torture and baton charge by Indian deployed troops. People are restricted from going to mosques. Children, aging from two to three are dying due to shortage of milk. Patients are not being properly taken care of nor are they being provided with good medical treatment in hospitals. Constant closure and shutdown of Kashmir has disrupted food supply; thus, compelling people to starve to death. Mobile and net services are suspended from the first day the curfew was imposed along with stiff censorship on print and electronic media, which has disconnected approximately 90,000 people from the world.
International organizations must play their part
Deplorably, UN, the world’s largest organization, has utterly failed in settling the Kashmir dispute, proving itself to be a toothless body that has turned its blind eyes from genocide of Muslims in Kashmir; thus not fulfilling its objective for which it was formed. Similarly, OIC another big bloc of 57 Muslim countries, whose previous records have never been pleasant to tackle the problems of Muslim ummah, has turned a deaf ear to the atrocities being inflicted on Muslims by Indian forces in Kashmir. Likewise, “SAARC” a south Asian based organization comprising of eight member states is too not accredited for not playing a significant role towards the resolution of Kashmir dispute.
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To summarize, first, ICJ “International Court of Justice” must play its unbiased role to resolve the Kashmir case under its legal and lawful judgements. Second, Security Council; one of the most important organs of UN, should also play its due part in putting occupied Kashmiris’ right of self-determination into practice under Security Council Resolution 47 adopted on 21 April 1948. Third, UN should send its peace keeping missions to Kashmir to halt human rights violations amidst this insurgency in held Kashmir; it will considerably restore durable peace and prosperity there. Last but not the least, Amnesty International must draw its full attention towards the Indian war crimes in held Kashmir.
Waseem Shabbir is a Gujranwala based political analyst and a freelance columnist. He can be reached at waseemshabbir78@gmail.com. The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Global Village Space.