Despite unprecedented Indian atrocities in Occupied Kashmir, the youth continue to fight for the liberation of their motherland from Indian yoke. What is significant is that India’s gross violation of human rights is being increasingly condemned by international human rights bodies, world media and parliamentarians. Recently five UN human rights experts have written to the Indian government to voice concern over its decision to revoke Kashmir’s special status and enact laws that curtail the political participation of Muslims and other minorities. Last year the UN Security Council (UNSC) held an urgent meeting to review the situation arising out of the 5 August 2019 lockdown of Kashmir by India. In January, the Labour Party’s Sarah Owens urged the UK government to take a position against Kashmir’s illegal annexation. In February US scholar Dr. Gregory H. Stanton, who is founding President of Genocide Watch, issued a stern warning. Saying that Kashmir is on the brink of genocide. In another move that was highly damaging for New Delhi, US think tank Freedom House demoted India from free to partially free
A number of Democrat Senators have recently taken India to task for atrocities in Kashmir. US Defence Secretary Lloyd James Austin was asked by Chaiman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Robert Menendez to raise reports of violations of human rights during his visit to India. He also emphasised that India-US partnership in the 21st century must be based on “adherence to democratic values”. India, he said, “has been trending away from those values”. Unfortunately in matters of statecraft, the USA tends to give preference to its strategic goals over its adherence to US values.
Pakistan has tried to seek the support of the Gulf countries over Kashmir. Having huge investments in India, these countries have shown reluctance. Pakistan’s efforts to get the OIC to pass a resolution condemning India from the OIC Foreign Ministers, forum have met resistance. Pakistan is constrained to extend only its moral and political support for Kashmir.
The people of the Indian-Occupied Kashmir have themselves to play a crucial role in determining the future of the region. They have a long and arduous struggle ahead. What they can get from outside is only political and moral backing.
