Kashmir Needs Global Attention

President Omar al Bashir of Sudan thought that he would be able to keep Sudan united no matter how hard and harsh he treated the public. But his thoughts proved to be a myth. The country plunged into a civil war in which nearly two million people lost their lives, and finally, Sudan got divided into two parts. Similarly, there are many examples in modern human history like Bosnia, Kosovo, East Timor, etc. where leaders tried to keep countries united at the cost of human rights but failed miserably. Kashmir is another relevant example where India usurped the land, and since the last 72 years, it has been oppressing and suppressing people at the highest level. The belligerent Indian leadership even changed the constitutional status to have a firm grip on Kashmir. But history speaks volumes that such tricks are not proved fruitful. People will keep standing up in arms against the occupation. History is testimony to the fact that like all other mighty powers in the history of the world, the Indian hegemony will collapse, and people of Kashmir will finally enjoy the freedom.

Since 1947, Kashmir has been a bone of contention between India and Pakistan. Both countries fought several bloody-wars and got deprived of the fruits of regionalism. Pakistan, being a small neighbour, has always tried to be on good terms with India and offered a hand of friendship that was always disregarded by India. Similarly, when the PTI government came into power, the prime minister of Pakistan in his very first victory speech offered cooperation and peaceful resolution of the disputes. On the other hand, the BJP leadership continued the warmongering, racist, and chauvinistic slogans during their election campaigns. The BJP under the guidance of prime minister Modi formulated its whole manifesto based on hate, bias, and revenge against Pakistan and Islam. In this background, their first casualty was Kashmir.

On 5 August 2019, the Government of India revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir granted under Article 370 of the Indian Constitution. India sent thousands of additional troops to the disputed region, imposed a curfew, shut down telecommunications and internet, and arrested political leaders.

Prime Minister Imran Khan, in his speech at the UN General Assembly, highlighted the Kashmir issue and explained the whole situation of Kashmir to the world. Now a year has passed away, and the people of Kashmir are still waiting for the world response. It would be fair to say that the major powers have ignored the Kashmir conflict between two nuclear states. When it comes to Indian aggression, international law becomes a law of morality, and its implementation depends on the sweet will of India. This unfair trend will further complicate the situation and push the region towards disaster.

When the people of Scotland expressed their concerns that their political rights are violated in the United Kingdom by England, the government offered separatists a chance to participate in the referendum that they finally lost. Similarly, in the international arena, the Jews and Christian causes related to the right of determination are properly listened by the international institutions the same as we witnessed in East Timor’s case. But the poor Muslims have to show streams of their blood to draw world attention like Bosnia, Myanmar, etc. Such injustice will shake the weak nations’ confidence in the international system. Mr. Robert Pape, an American terrorism studies expert, rightly concluded through his research that terrorism has strong links with land occupation and oppression. The comity of nations and global powers must show serious concern about the human rights violation of the people of Kashmir. Otherwise, Kashmir can be another new epicenter of terrorism.

Author
Awais Gilani
https://twitter.com/GillaniAwais