Kashmir movement gained recognition and momentum

Major cities of the world got recognition of movement for self-determination by people of Jammu and Kashmir. UN secretary General has shown his sympathies while describing sufferings of people of Indian Occupied Kashmir in his report of human rights violations. He could not control his emotions and tears were coming out of his eyes, his voice could not speak smoothly. Kashmir movement for self-determination has drawn the attention of whole world.

Every year 5th of February, is observed as Kashmir Day to show solidarity with People of Jammu and Kashmir. This year, on 5 February 2019, major capitals of the world witnessed major rallies, gathering, processions, conferences and protests Indian atrocities and major violations of human rights. They all condemned Indian denial of right of self-determination of people of Jammu and Kashmir. India has surpassed all record in Human right violations in Jammu and Kashmir and turned the whole valley as a cantonment or battle field. India spent is resources (Troops and Financial) beyond its means to suppress Kashmiri’s right of self-determination.

Sub-continent was divided into Pakistan and India at the end of British Empire. The Muslim majority areas will become the part of Pakistan and Hindu majority areas will become part of India. According to this principle, Kashmir, being the Muslim Majority are, should be part of Pakistan. But, India sent its troops to occupy Kashmir. When they faced resistance from locals and Pakistan Army, India approached United Nation (UN). The United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 47, adopted on April 21, 1948, concerns the resolution of the Kashmir conflict, to hold plebiscite in Kashmir to seek the willingness of Kashmiris to either join Pakistan or India. Indian refusal to implement the resolution of United Nations is condemned widely all over the world.

But India has refused by one or another excuse to delay or refuse the right of self-determination of Kashmiris. India has deployed around 900,000 troops to suppress the Kashmiris indigenous freedom movement. This was official figure of troops provided by India, but in fact, the force is much more as India is using intellectuals, teachers, businessmen, social workers and NGOs to forced-change the mid-set of Kashmiris.

The Indian sources quoted the killing of around 22,584 killings during period 2000-2018, but local sources on ground says the number of killings may have crossed 100,000. It includes, men, women, children and even infants were not spared. Killings of innocents is a matter of routine in Kashmir. Security forces were given free-hands to kill anyone without specifying any reason.

92,830 people were injured by Indian law enforcement agencies in Jammu and Kashmir, official. Pallet gun use became a routine matter in Indian Occupied Kashmir. But the ground realities are much beyond one’s imagination. Number of arrests provided officially are 57,870. But in fact, prisons are not sufficient to accommodate the number of arrests and even top leadership has been arrested or house arrested on almost on all important events. The conditions of prisons are rather poor and tortured frequently. Number of rape/ molestation by Indian sources are 3763. The Law enforcement agencies are given free hand to assault sexually and has been used as military tactics to humiliate and torture the people of Indian Occupied Kashmir. Generally, Indian society is prone to rape, and declared one of the most dangerous place on earth for women. Even foreign female tourist are not safe in India and witnessed several cases of rape openly. India has surpassed the rest of world in rape. To harm the Kashmiris economically, the structural damage to their businesses and crops were quoted 10306 cases. However, due to presence of Occupying Army’s terror, there is negligible business activities, the life is almost halted and still stand. Economically destroying Kashmiris is well designed by Indian government. India wanted to push Kashmiris to the stage of poverty, where people are compelled to give-up their right of self-determination.

The total number of troops officially by India are: 876,481, which are questionable, as the local sources disagree with this number. They are the people who are facing Indian forces on day to day basis, and are in much better position to estimate the precise figures. While Kashmiris are un armed and only lodging peaceful protests as per the UN charter.

Researchers at the Institute for Defense Studies and Analyses, Delhi, say the cost of controlling Kashmir could easily be US Dollars 3 billion annually. Which is almost 6% of their Defense budget. The actual cost may be much higher. India is a worst poverty-hit nation. Where people are suffering from shortage of food, shortage of clean drinking water, no access to education, scarcity of housing and toilets, no basic health facilities, etc. India cannot sustain longer with such heavy expenditures. Occupying Kashmir is very expensive for India and may have to pay heavy price. It may cost disintegration of India, as Sikhs are also compelled to stand with Kashmiris, and this was witnessed in London and many other capitals of Europe.

It is time for India to think rationally and smartly. They must accept their defeat in Jammu and Kashmir as a first step. India failed to suppress Kashmiris Freedom Struggle, in spite of deploying huge army, killing thousand, imprison millions, damaging their business, burning their crops, raping women, even not sparing infants. India’s efforts to change status of Jammu and Kashmir, for last seven decades, failed totally. It is time for India to learn lesson from history of seven decades, and accept defeat immediately. If 70 years are not enough to suppress Kashmiris, they will never be able to suppress the brave Kashmiris in future. India have to leave Jammu and Kashmir, the sooner the better. India cannot win against the will of whole world.

UN, International Community and all individuals with human Conscious, may play their role in convincing India to leave Kashmir immediately. There is no matter of face losing, while US is also pulling out from Syria and Afghanistan, India may follow US and leave Kashmir for People of Kashmir.

Author: Prof. Engr. Zamir Ahmed Awan, Sinologist (ex-Diplomate), Non-Resident Fellow of CCG (Center for China and Globalization), National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Pakistan.