By Tasneem Yaseen
The people of Indian Held Kashmir (IHK) have been suffering atrocities for decades, and it seems will continue to do so unless something is done to redress the situation. Pakistan has always supported its Kashmiri brethren and has always tried to highlight their stance at international forums. The international community has long ignored the issue of Kashmir and the Indian atrocities in IHK as well, it is high time we bring a stop to this. The people of Kashmir deserve to live their lives on their own terms and in peace; no one has the right to take that away from them.
History tells us that with approximately 87% Muslim population, Kashmir would have in all probability acceded to Pakistan but it was forcibly overtaken by the Indians. The people of Kashmir rejected illegal Indian occupation and its case was presented at the United Nations. Through the resolutions passed on August 13, 1948, and January 5, 1949, the UN approved a ceasefire, demarcation of the ceasefire line and a free and impartial plebiscite to be conducted under the supervision of the world body. But we are still waiting for this to happen. India fears the loss of Kashmir and so continues to avoid a plebiscite. In all this time India has utilized force to subjugate the people in Indian Held Kashmir (IHK), they have been suffering atrocities for decades and thousands of lives have been lost.
Tensions have been high in IHK since the killing of Burhan Wani by Indian security forces in July 2016. Wani’s funeral was followed by angry protests that were unprecedented in intensity and range. The will of the Kashmiri people has not been broken instead a new wave of uprising in Kashmir emerged. Despite the attention of the world community and with human rights groups across the globe condemning India for its human rights abuses in IHK nothing has been done. India has in fact escalated its cruel behaviour. The massive suppression by India is clearly designed to silence the people of Kashmir.
Pakistan is firmly committed to a just and peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and the protection of their fundamental rights. India has till date not implemented the UN Security Council resolution on Kashmir that mandates a UN-supervised plebiscite for the people of Jammu and Kashmir and this situation can no longer be ignored.
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain has also spoken recently that Kashmiris have been fighting against the Indian occupation generation after generation and Pakistanis were supporting their cause since day one.
Prime Minister Imran Khan tweeted a few months back, “Strongly condemn the new cycle of killings of innocent Kashmiris in IOK by Indian security forces. It is time India realized it must resolve the Kashmir dispute through dialogue in accordance with the UN SC resolutions & the wishes of the Kashmiri people.”
India must respond positively to Pakistan’s earnest efforts to resolve the outstanding issue amicably through a peaceful dialogue process; and the international community should assist in securing the rights of the Kashmiris. Pakistan must continue to push for a peaceful solution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, the lives of millions of people and their future generations depend on it.
