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Author: Prof. Engr. Zamir Ahmed Awan, Sinologist (ex-Diplomat), Editor, Analyst, Non-Resident Fellow of CCG (Center for China and Globalization), National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Pakistan. (E-mail: [email protected]).
On 5th of August, Kashmiri observed "Black Day" on completion of two years, since on 5th August 2019, the Government of India unilaterally revoked the special status, or autonomy, granted under Article 370 of the Indian Constitution to Jammu and occupied Kashmir. India, through its illegal and unilateral actions of 5th August 2019 and continuing gross and systematic human rights violations in the occupied territory, has vitiated the environment. India is manipulating the demography of IIOJK to tilt any future referendum in its favor by creating conditions that would reduce the majority of the people of Kashmir into a minority or just at the margins so as to invalidate their collective voice. Pakistan released a fresh official map of the country on 4th August to revoke occupied Kashmir's semi-autonomous status. Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said Articles 370 and 35A gave only separatism, terrorism, nepotism, and large-scale corruption to the erstwhile state. NC President Farooq Abdullah spoke about the Modi government's treatment of people in Kashmir, pointing out that the people of Kashmir were not free people but slaves. The new domicile law will create a Palestine-like situation in the South Asian region.
Fed-up of Indian atrocities and brutalities, millions of Kashmiris marked the day as "Black Day" on 5th August. Protests and demonstrations were staged in almost all capitals and big cities around the world. Local people also participated in such demonstrations and agitations in solidarity with the People of Kashmir. Many world leaders expressed their open support for the cause of Kashmir and condemned the Indian aggression of Kashmir. The UN has also reaffirmed to implement its resolutions. As the resolutions passed seven decades ago by the UNSC are mandatory for India to implement. It was emphasized that India must implement all relevant resolutions without any further delay.
Pakistanis stand shoulder to shoulder with their Kashmiri people. PM Imran Khan resolves to become Kashmir's voice and its ambassador. Pakistan reiterates raising the voice of Kashmiris at all global forums, including the UN. Muslim Ummah is urged to wake up from slumber and raise its voice for Kashmiris. Every single voice raised in support of Kashmiris would surely make a difference. Supporting Kashmiris is to support humanity. It is time to stand up for Kashmiris before it is too late. It is time to hold India accountable for its crimes in IIOJK. The global community must step in and call on India to lift the inhuman blockade in IIOJK. It is time for the UN to honor its commitments regarding Kashmir.
Chargé d'Affaires (Cd'A) of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad was called to the Foreign Office and conveyed a strong demarche to register the Government of Pakistan's unequivocal rejection of India's illegal and unilateral actions since 5th August 2019, and continuing military siege and human rights violations in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
Two years had passed since these actions were taken, which breached international law, the UN Charter, and the 4th Geneva Convention, as well as several resolutions of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.
The Chargé d'Affaires was reminded of Pakistan's consistent stance that the Government of India must reverse its illegal and unilateral actions of 5th August 2019; immediately lift its inhuman military siege in IIOJK; stop its illegal measures to change the demographic structure of the occupied territory; cease extrajudicial killings of Kashmiri youth in fake encounters and cordon-and-search operations; release the illegally detained Kashmiri youth and political leadership; withdraw over 900,000 occupation troops from IIOJK, and let Kashmiris exercise their inalienable right to self-determination through a fair and impartial plebiscite under auspices of the United Nations as enshrined in the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions.
As a matter of fact, the Abrogation of Article 370 and 35-A in IIOJK by India has political and legal dimensions. Politically, the decision is in line with India's anti-Muslim rhetoric. On the legal side, the decision has scrapped the political rights of Kashmiri Muslims. Modi is now determined to carry out further delimitation in IIOJK, which aims to somehow give the new state a "Hindu Chief Minister," as many in BJP have hoped. Since 5th August 2019, illegal unilateral action by the BJP government to change the status of Kashmir, Pakistan has mustered up considerable diplomatic pressure on India. Over 600-800 articles, including Op-Eds from PM, have been published since 5th August 2019. Over 1000 protests have been staged across the world against Indian brutalities. 42nd and 44th rounds of the UN and the Human Rights Council demonstrate that India's illegal actions have been debated on international forums along with foreign ministers' letters to various heads of governments, which denounce BJP's move.
PM Modi is swallowing up Kashmir thanks to the "failed foreign policy of a failed government." Hate crimes and violence against Muslims have steadily increased in India since PM Modi assumed office. Lynching and physical bashing of unarmed Muslims by armed and organized RSS extremists have become a usual routine in India. Modi has made India an unsafe place for minorities. 2020 Report on International Religious Freedom highlighted that "there were reports of religiously motivated killings, assaults, riots, discrimination, vandalism, and actions restricting the right of individuals to practice and speak about their religious beliefs." International experts on genocidal violence have warned that India is preparing for "genocide" of the 200 million Muslims in India. Indian security forces have "employed rape, torture, degrading treatment and killings of Kashmiri women as instruments of state terrorism." There are new cases of torture and extrajudicial killings committed by Indian forces, including in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, and IIOJK.
Despite all military might and the worst atrocities, India could not suppress the urge for self-determination during the long seven decades. It will never succeed in its evil designs. It is better for India to leave Kashmir and let the people of Kashmir exercise the right of self-determination granted by the UNSC in 1948.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)