BY MOWADDAT ZAHRA
The magnificent valleys of Kashmir that not long ago, were flooded with Shikaras, walnuts, wood carved and silverware items, cherries and almonds, now has been witnessing barbed wires, check-posts and uniformed armed men.
The markets and cities that once heard sounds of satoor, Kashmiri saz, setar and Koshur, now echo with noise of guns, thuds of military boots and cries of innocent.
The enchanting, breathtakingly beautiful valleys of Kashmir that are abundant in beauty are now at the mercy of Indian army. Fear has replaced peace; conflict has replaced tranquility. The wails of the world, regarding lockdown due to COVID-19, are allayed by the cruel physical and communication lockdown that has been imposed on Kashmiris by brutal Indian Army, depriving them of their basic human rights including food, health facilities and Internet.
Systematic torture on innocent Kashmiris by the BJP-led government is inspired by their RSS ideology, killing the youngsters in the valley. Sexual molestation and use of pellet guns have damaged the collective psychology of the Kashmiris.
A presidential decree of PM Modi tore apart the articles 370 and 35a of Indian constitution, which were advocated by Jawaharlal Nehru, since 1949. In doing so, India isn’t only accused of violating its own constitution’s article 368, undermining the ability of the state constituent Assembly but also breached UNSC resolution 47 which determines the procedure to resolve India-Pakistan dispute over Kashmir by impartial and free plebiscite, additionally to the violation of article 49 of GCIV.
The revocation of the articles, not only bereaves Kashmiris of their special status, like the right to own their flag, right to possess an autonomous governance body, right to create their own constitution and also they weren’t compelled to accept from now on, the constitution of India, but also, by deploying 700,000 soldiers in Kashmir, made this place one of the highest militarized zones on the planet.
India, having the stance of adjusting Kashmir’s autonomous state to a union territory of India, was firstly emboldened by Hindu ultra-nationalists, raising slogans like ‘Easy way to delete article 370 and 35a- simply cut them with scissors’ and ‘campaign of abolishing articles 370-for a safer, united and happier India’, and secondly, was fulfilling a pledge made by PM Modi to “change the state of Kashmir by abrogating article 370 and 35a”, during his election campaign.
Although, Delhi claims that the provocation of the articles were for the Indian and south Asian development, but Kashmir and Islamabad know, that intent to the action was to “change the demography of Kashmir through ‘ethnic cleansing’”, as stated by PM Khan.
After dismissing the special status being given to the Kashmiris, tensions between Pakistan and India rose, and as a response to this, foreign ministry came up with the stance that Pakistan will take all the actions to counter India for performing this illegal act.
The issue was taken to UN by PM Imran Khan, following meetings with leaders all round the world, including British, and US President, but no serious efforts were seen in response. On the request of China and Pakistan, the UNSC conducted a casual meeting on Kashmir dispute, where both the countries, India and Pakistan were advised to practice caution.
Being a member of UNHRC, Pakistan should submit her plea, to cease Human rights violation in Kashmir by the immediate intervention of International community, as Indian army is using indiscriminate weapons including cluster munitions and pellet guns in violation of International Humanitarian Law.
Pakistan took aggressive diplomacy policy against India, saying that if India wants to resolve the conflict by table talks, Pakistan won’t agree upon it, until Kashmir’s special status is restored, because Pakistan wants to allow the right of Self-determination to the innocent Kashmiris by referendum, in accordance to the UN resolution.
Improving Pakistan’s diplomatic maneuvering at International forums, to isolate India, by conveying the precise gravity of the inhumane acts of Indian Army in Kashmir, should be appropriately carried to the International forums, by the best civil servants as envoy to the UN. They can successfully lobby at these organizations. Besides fighting on the diplomatic front, Pakistani diaspora should be assigned by Pakistani foreign missions, to highlight Indian atrocities in Kashmir. This is the responsibility of Pakistanis to disseminate awareness, through electronic and print media to raise the issue, in sync with government at International level, whereas expatriates should also raise their voice on a local level.
Pakistan may strongly support and highlight China’s stance on international platforms, pertaining to Ladakh issue and ongoing tensions in Indian occupied Kashmir. Pakistan should also fight on economic as well as military fronts, by putting economic pressure on India, by banning the imports of Indian commodities and maintain a clear foreign policy, reinforced by the military presence to take appropriate reaction at LoC, as and when required.
India knows that she herself is sowing the seeds of heavy destruction in Kashmir, which are currently suppressed by the curfew restrictions but one day India will have to ease the lockdown. Keeping the consideration in view, Pakistan should preempt by maximizing its intelligence services along the area of LoC.
(Mowaddat Zahra is a student of National Defence University Islamabad. She writes on issues related to Nuclear Strategy and South Asia.)
