Every year, Kashmir Solidarity Day is observed on February 5 by people throughout Pakistan and Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK). Pakistan observes this very day to express country’s unwavering political, moral and diplomatic support to the just struggle of Kashmiri brethren, as enshrined in the UN Charter and relevant UN resolutions.
The day is marked by public processions, seminars, protests and special prayers in mosques by people across Pakistan and AJK, which are carried out against the Indian oppression in the disputed territory of Held Kashmir and for its liberation.
In order to maintain its illegal control, India has continued its repressive regime in Held Kashmir through various machinations.
Particularly, Pakistan’s missions abroad also commemorate special events to inform the international community about the persecution faced by Kashmiris under the illegal Indian occupation. Islamabad will continue to extend moral, political and diplomatic support to just cause of people of Held Kashmir till realization of their right to self-determination in accordance with the UNSC resolutions
Showing complete disregard of the Constitution, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has accelerated implementation of the Hindutva ideology.
The Indian Constitution, which claims India is a secular state, was torn into pieces on 5 August 2019 when the extremist government revoked Articles 35A and 370, which gave a special status to Held Kashmir. The Indian government bifurcated Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories—Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh, to be ruled by the federal government. On the same day, strict military lockdown was imposed in Held Kashmir, which continues unabated.
In fact, the very tragedy of Kashmiris had started after 1947 when they were denied their genuine right of self-determination. They organized themselves against the injustices of India and launched a war of liberation which New Delhi tried to suppress through various forms of state terrorism.
Since 1989, various forms of state terrorism have been part of a deliberate campaign by the Indian army and paramilitary forces against Muslim Kashmiris. It has been manifested in brutal tactics like crackdowns, curfews, illegal detentions, massacre, targeted killings, sieges, burning the houses, torture, disappearances, rape, breaking the legs, molestation of Muslim women and killings in fake encounters.
The deployment of more than 900,000 military troops in Held Kashmir, who have martyred tens of thousands of Kashmiris, including women and children, through brutal tactics like fake encounters, while closure of mosques, shortage of foods, medicines for patients have further increased the plight of the Kashmiris.
To hide human rights violations, communication services have been cut off and foreign journalists forbidden from entering the region.
Indian forces have been also availing such draconian laws as Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), the Public Safety Act (PSA) etc. in martyring the Kashmiri people, and for arbitrarily arresting any individual indefinitely.
The Modi regime has intensified its plans, bringing demographic changes in Held Kashmir. In this context, India has amended the law, allowing Indian citizens to buy land in Held Kashmir , issued domicile certificates to over 80,0000 non-Kashmiris, and registered almost 2.5 million new non-local voters..
The regime has also sent gangs of RSS-BJP volunteers to be permanently stationed in the occupied Kashmir.
Despite the use of chemical weapons, pellet guns and phosphorus bombs, Kashmiris have accelerated the war of liberation,, as recognized by the related UN resolutions.
Notably, during the partition of the Sub-continent, the people of Jammu and Kashmir which comprised a Muslim majority, decided to join Pakistan. But, Dogra Raja, Sir Hari Singh, a Hindu ruling Kashmir in collusion with Indian PM Jawaharlal Nehru and Governor General Lord Mountbatten, joined India.
The Radcliffe Boundary Award gave Gurdaspur District,a majority Muslim area, to India to provide a land route to the Indian armed forces to move into the J&K.
Indian forces invaded Srinagar on 27 October, 1947 and forcibly occupied Kashmir in utter violation of the partition plan.
When Pakistan responded militarily, on December 31, India appealed to the UN Security Council to intervene and a ceasefire ultimately came into effect on 1 January 1949, following UN resolutions calling for a plebiscite in Kashmir.
The Security Council adopted a resolution of 21 April 1948, which promised a plebiscite under UN auspices to enable the people to determine whether they wish to join Pakistan or India. On 5 February 1964, India backed out of its plebiscite commitment. Instead, Indian Parliament declared Kashmir-an integral part of the Indian Union.
Western media, human rights groups, leaders of various countries and the UN have repeatedly condemned Indian illegal measures and human rights abuses which keep going on in Held Kashmir .
A year after India abrogated the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, UN human rights experts on 4 August 2020 called on India and the international community to take urgent action to address the “alarming” human rights situation in Kashmir,“to investigate all cases of human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, torture and arbitrary detentions.”
Amnesty International also said on 29 September 2020 that it is “stopping its work in India because the government has frozen its bank accounts” on September 10 for highlighting rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir”.
In the recent past, the UN Security Council in its meetings has thrice reiterated that the Kashmir issue requires to be settled in accordance with the principles of the UN charter and the related Security Council resolutions, as the world has refused to believe in the Indian story that its actions regarding Held Kashmir are its internal matter.
Recently, the UN General Assembly has adopted a Pakistan-sponsored resolution on “Universal Realization of the Right of the People to Self-determination with the consensus of 72 countries. On this day, special transmissions were broadcasted on media to highlight the Kashmir cause.
However, the current situation is the worst in recent history, as through cotinuous illegal and unilateral steps, Modi’s government has created an environment of fear and chaos for the Kashmiris.
Kashmir has become the world’s largest prison, and the most militarized zone on earth. In this respect, Pakistanis and Kashmiris abroad also highlighted Indian atrocities and continued struggle for the Kashmiris’ legitimate right of self-determination at various international forums, emphasizing the Kashmir issue should be resolved in accordance with the related UN resolutions.
Particularly, Pakistan’s missions abroad also commemorate special events to inform the international community about the persecution faced by Kashmiris under the illegal Indian occupation. Islamabad will continue to extend moral, political and diplomatic support to just cause of people of Held Kashmir till realization of their right to self-determination in accordance with the UNSC resolutions.
February 5 iwa observed Kashmir Solidarity Day to pay homage to Kahsmiri martyrs and to show solidarity with the freedom fighters who continue the war of liberation, demanding their legitimate right of self-determination, as recognized by the UNSC resolutions.
