The people of sub-continent fought for their freedom, which led to the creation of India and Pakistan. In 1947-48, India and Pakistan fought their first war over the State of Jammu and Kashmir (A princely state, ruled by a Hindu ruler Maharaja Hari Singh, while most of his subjects were Muslim). On January 01, 1948, India took the Kashmir dispute to the United Nations. On January 01, 1949, a ceasefire was agreed between India and Pakistan. The ceasefire line is called the ‘Line of Control’, where it was intended to be a temporary arrangement but even today remains the de facto border between India and Pakistan.

The mutual agreement between India and Pakistan led the UN Security Council (UNSC) and UN Commission for India and Pakistan (UNCIP) to pass several resolutions on Kashmir dispute. The UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution of April 21, 1948 is one of the most important UN resolutions on Kashmir dispute. It was resolved that “both India and Pakistan desire that the question of the accession of Jammu and Kashmir to India or Pakistan should be decided through the democratic method of a free and impartial plebiscite”. Therefore, UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions reiterated the same stance and UN Commission for India and Pakistan (UNCIP) resolutions of August 03, 1948 and January 05, 1949 reinforced UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions on Kashmir dispute.

It is noteworthy that the complaint relating to Kashmir dispute was initiated by Indian State and the UN Security Council explicitly and by implications, rejected India’s claim that the State of Jammu and Kashmir is legally Indian Territory. The UN resolutions clearly established self-determination (holding of a free and impartial plebiscite) as the governing principal for the settlement of the Kashmir dispute between Indian and Pakistan. It is the world’s governing body’s commitment to the people of Jammu and Kashmir; which is not fulfilled yet. Kashmiris are still awaiting justice.

It is also pertinent to state here that the UN resolutions, passed as a result of mutual consent endorsed a binding agreement between India and Pakistan reached through the mediation of UN Commission for India and Pakistan (UNCIP), that a free and impartial plebiscite will decide the question of accession of the State of Jammu and Kashmir.

Unfortunately, India has been avoiding the implementation of the UN resolutions. On the other hand, Pakistan is entirely committed to the right of self-determination of Kashmiris. Indian establishment has been using all forms of tactics including use of brutal force against innocent people of occupied Kashmir.

There are thousands of political prisoners (pro-freedom activists) including women in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK). The stories of half-widows and mass graves in occupied Kashmir have been reported numerous times. The Indian state is using its military and judiciary as tools of oppression against Kashmiris. The book titled ‘Prisoner No.100: An Account of My Nights and Days in an Indian Prison’ by Anjum Zamarud Habib (a woman political activist from Indian Occupied Kashmir, was arrested in Delhi, India and jailed under the (notorious) Prevention of Terrorism Act / POTA) illuminates the darkest corners of Indian Occupied Kashmir’s political experience. Undoubtedly, it is a story from occupied Kashmir that has exposed the dirty face of Indian State.

The movement in Kashmir is a struggle for independence of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. It is a movement for gaining the right of self-determination which was promised to the people of Jammu and Kashmir by India and United Nations. Therefore, the freedom movement in Indian Occupied Kashmir is lawful.

Indian army is mercilessly killing pro-freedom activists, including young men and women. Indian establishment is scared of the natural alliance between the people of Pakistan and Kashmir. Therefore, Indian establishment is all out to crush the legitimate Kashmiri Freedom Movement with brutal force in the garb of countering terrorism. Unfortunately, bloodshed, rape, and terrorization are major components of Indian policy in occupied Kashmir. It is noteworthy that almost every impartial and independent media outlet (such as BBC, The Guardian, and Al Jazeera) and rights organizations (such as Amnesty International) have comprehensively reported the human rights abuses in Indian Occupied Kashmir. However, the international community in general and the world governing body in particular have failed to redress the grievances of the Kashmiri people.

It is praiseworthy that recently the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has called upon India to implement the UN Security Council’s resolutions on state of Jammu and Kashmir. The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in the joint communique issued at the end of the summit in Istanbul (Turkey) expressed concern at the indiscriminate use of force and gross violation of human rights in India Occupied Kashmir by the Indian forces. The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit affirmed support to the Kashmir struggle and held it could not be equated with terrorism. Undoubtedly, it is a significant development. The government of Pakistan and its diplomatic team in OIC deserves standing ovation for the excellent job. It is an outcome of Pakistan’s unwavering commitment with the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

India has adopted an obnoxious policy of using violence against Kashmiris (backed by draconian laws) to undermine political struggle in occupied Kashmir. Indian policy in occupied Kashmir has endangered the peace in South Asia. It is also a serious threat to the world peace with particular emphasis on the fact that both India and Pakistan are nuclear powers. The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) must take action against India under Chapter VII of UN Charter (Action with respect to threats to the peace, breaches of the peace and acts of aggression).Indian policy of using indiscriminate force in occupied Kashmir to curb lawful freedom movement tantamount as genocide of Kashmiri people. Indian establishment must learn from history that even British had to leave when people of sub-continent fought bravely for their freedom from British rule. Therefore, India should not further destabilize peace efforts in South Asia by resorting to the use of indiscriminate force against unarmed civilians in occupied Kashmir. However, it is also a lesson from history that some people learn the hard way.