The Kashmir issue is one of the two issues on the UN agenda that have been unresolved for the last fifty years. Unfortunately, the second issue is also related to the Muslim-populated area, in Palestine.
It should be noted here that, India’s illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir is a recognised as an international dispute and the UN and Security Council resolutions bear witness to the fact that India has illegally placed its impure claws on this paradise valley. The resolutions also call on India to give the oppressed Kashmiris the right to self-determination so that they can freely decide their fate and destiny, but these resolutions have not been implemented yet. And despite the demands of the United Nations, India has continued to show stubbornness in this regard.
In the above context, it is also a sad fact that international bodies and the international community resort to mere verbal statements and denunciations and they have never hinted at taking any concrete action against India on the Kashmir issue. India trampled all international norms on August 5, 2019 by annulling Articles 370 and 35A of its Constitution, unilaterally declaring the Occupied Territories’ special status as its own.
In the aftermath, Pakistan reacted strongly to this move and in this regard, the political and military leadership together expressed solidarity with the Kashmiris and expressed their determination to raise this issue in every international forum. On the basis of this incident, Pakistan banned all trade with India, which is still in force.
It is pertinent to note here that at every moment, Kashmiris have expressed their disgust with India and reiterated their commitment not to recognise India’s illegal occupation.
In June 2010, the then Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh visited the occupied valley. On that occasion, the Kashmiris went on a full-scale strike and sent a clear message to India that they considered him a usurper who had illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Now, after twelve years, for the first time after the cruel act of August 5, 2019, Narendra Modi visited Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK); a similar situation was witnessed which shows that Kashmiris have not backed down an inch from their position and they will remain steadfast till independence. In this regard, the world community and the international bodies need to consider these incidents and learn from them—their criminal silence cannot dampen the spirit of Kashmiris for their birth right to choose their fate and destiny.
At present, gross human rights violations by the Modi-led fascist regime have become a threat to regional peace and stability. In these circumstances, it is very unfortunate that the United Nations is merely passing hollow statements due to the hypocrisy of world powers.
In conclusion, international bodies should take the Kashmir issue seriously for peace beyond the interests of the world powers. The world powers and international bodies need to understand that, Kashmiris are struggling for their basic right to self-determination from which no one can stop them. However, the responsibility lies on the shoulders of the Security Council to hold a free and fair plebiscite in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) to give Kashmiris’ their birth right of self-determination, since the UN is primarily responsible for the enforcement of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The writer is a freelance columnist.
He tweets
@MAkhter_.
The Kashmir issue is one of the two issues on the UN agenda that have been unresolved for the last fifty years.