Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) is once again gripped by the reign of death unleashed by Indian state sponsored. On Sunday, nine unarmed innocent civilians were martyred, and dozens were seriously injured in what appears to be a deliberate attempt by Indian security forces to disperse peaceful demonstration against Indian occupation of valley. This was merely an extension of Indian state violence in occupied Kashmir that India has continued to maintain despite continuous struggle of Kashmiris for their autonomy and independence of their homeland. Tens of thousands, mostly civilians, have died in the decades of fighting in Kashmir and Indian authorities have always tried to malign Kashmir’s freedom fighters as ‘terrorists’ and all the while flexing its military muscle in an area which has highest civilian-to-military ratio in the world. Popular unrest that has continued for six decades has been rising since 2016 when a charismatic young Kashmiri leader, Burhan Wani, was shot dead by Indian forces.
The sheer scale of human right violation by India in occupied Kashmir and global silence attests that international community has abandoned Kashmiris in their struggle for right to self-determination. Pakistan being an equally relevant stakeholder in Kashmir issue has rightly highlighted the plight of Kashmiris on UN and other international forums but more needs to be done. Government should actively pursue the case of Kashmiris on their behalf and lobby on global stage to shame India and bring it to observe UN Security Council resolutions on an independent plebiscite in both halves of valley. Pakistan’s government and people have long supported the Kashmiri cause, but this is not enough. Universal human rights are not a global issue and global community must be made to realize the perpetual suffering that residents of IOK are subjected to on daily basis. A Palestine like movement of Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) could be launched against India with cooperation from Organization of Islamic countries and international human rights organizations. It is time the world community wake up to Indian state atrocities on the people of occupied Kashmir.