By Aurangzeb Alamgir
Kashmiris and freedom loving people all around the world celebrate
27th October as Black Day. In historical context, on 27 October 1947, the
Maharaja of Kashmir acceded to India through an improper and illegal Instrument
of Accession. Although he has lost support of people who have established an
independent state (Azad Jammu & Kashmir). On the same day, India airlifted
its forces to Srinagar and occupied the valley. It is worth mention that when
India and Pakistan became independent on August 1947, it was generally assumed
that Kashmir, as a contiguous state with a predominantly Muslim population,
would accede to Pakistan.
Since 1989, the
people of Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) were killed, tortured, humiliated, and
injured. Thousands of the people were killed due to cycle of violence prevalent
in Jammu and Kashmir. Thousands of the people got injuries and they became
disabled to work. Many are those who lost their beloved children’s, daughters,
sisters, mothers, and some women have lost their beloved husbands who were only
the source to care for them. Due to turmoil situations, thousands of the houses
and shops were burnt. A simple survey reveals that every family in Kashmir has
been suffered in terms of youth killed, injured or tortured, a woman raped or
molested, elder men and women dishonored and humiliated. The people who were
killed or injured mostly were innocent children’s from the age of 5 to 22 years
old, not only this but women were killed and injured during the peaceful
protest march.
This is more
lamentable that India is committing these atrocities and human rights
violations under a proper legal framework. For example, in IOK, India has
imposed Public Safety Act (PSA) and Armed Forces Special Power Act to coerce
innocent Kashmiris. These acts are the open violation of International Law and
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). These laws
provide complete freedom of action to the occupied forces against innocent
Kashmiris. Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and other human rights
organizations have reported countless stories of tyranny and oppression of
Indian forces in occupied Kashmir. Killings through torture and hostage taking
are the common phenomenon. Along with it, sexual violence and psychological
torturing are another horrific weapon by Indian security forces against
Kashmiri women. According to unbiased sources, annually 500-600 Kashmiri women
are facing sexual violence. And generally rape is committed on gun point by
Indian forces. Since, Kashmir struggle for independence has started, occupied
forces have used all sort of violence against the people. By violating Kashmiri
law of land, India is gradually changing demography in J&K. Indian
authorities are allotting land to non-Kashmiri Hindus. Similarly, India is also
establishing separate colonies for troops and Pundits.
Kashmiris even are
not feeling safe in other parts of India, they are being terrorized and killed
in other parts of India. India has always abused her power in IOK. This all was
done on the basis of bayonet and misuse of power. India debunks the image of
Kashmiri everywhere; undoubtedly, it can be said that Kashmiri people are
talented, humane and generous, but the system had always suppressed them
without taking into consideration their genuine demands. Democracy is based on
rule of law, justice, equality, and liberty. But it’s quite ironic that these
features of democracy are absent in IOK. All eruptions in the state were caused
only because of the democratic failure.
On the other hand,
India refuses to acknowledge that the people of IOK have become totally
alienated and there is complete rejection of Indian occupation. Several
Kashmiri political parties have formed the all Pakistan Hurriyat (Freedom) Conference
(APHC) to continue the political struggle for self-determination. The APHC,
therefore, constitutes the true representative of the Kashmiri people. Instead
of accepting the existing reality, India has sought to blame Pakistan for
allegedly promoting the Kashmiri uprising. The fact is that this movement is
completely indigenous and enjoys mass support. The Indian allegations against
Pakistan are the tactics to mislead the International Community and to create a
camouflage behind which they can continue repression in IOK. After more than
four decades of a peaceful struggle against Indian repression, manipulation and
exploitation, the Kashmiri people, convinced that India would never honour its
commitments, and inspired by similar movements for freedom in other parts of
the world, rose against the Indian occupation towards the later part of 1989.
Their struggle was, and remains, largely peaceful.
While, Pakistan has
principle stance to continue and extend full political, diplomatic and moral support
to the legitimate Kashmiri struggle for their right to self-determination as
enshrined in the relevant United Nations resolutions. In the context of the
bilateral dialogue, it calls on India to translate its commitments into
reality. At the same time, it will encourage the international community to
support and supplement our efforts to establish lasting peace and stability in
South Asia on the basis of equitable resolution of all disputes between the two
countries, in particular the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir.
