The Unwavering Struggle for Kashmir: A Call for Global Accountability

Hafiz Noman Ahmed

Since 1990, Pakistanis have marked February 5 as Kashmir Day, a day to show steadfast solidarity with the people of Kashmir, who have long suffered under Indian occupation. This day holds great significance, originating during a time when an indigenous resistance movement rose against India’s oppressive rule in the region. While India dismissed this resistance as mere terrorism orchestrated by Pakistan, the persistence and intensity of the Kashmiri struggle over the decades have only reinforced the deep-rooted desire for freedom. Despite enduring more than seven decades of repression, the Kashmiri people’s spirit remains unyielding, standing resilient against the many forms of authoritarian rule imposed on them.

Although the cause for Kashmir’s liberation is just and rooted in the fundamental right to self-determination, the global response to the issue has often been disappointing, overshadowed by economic and geopolitical interests. Many powerful nations, especially in the West, have tended to prioritize their access to Indian markets and view India as a strategic partner against China. As a result, India has benefited from a pro-India bias in international forums, diminishing Pakistan’s efforts to raise the issue of Kashmir on the global stage. Despite this, Pakistan’s responsibility remains clear: to continue raising the Kashmir issue in every international forum, constantly reminding the United Nations of its obligation to implement resolutions that grant the Kashmiri people the right to self-determination.

The urgency of the situation cannot be overstated. The world must not only acknowledge the human rights violations taking place in Kashmir but actively condemn them. Since the onset of Indian occupation, Kashmiris have endured an array of atrocities committed by Indian forces. These violations include extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and the use of rubber bullets that have led to hundreds of Kashmiri children losing their eyesight. The brutality of the situation is not an isolated incident but part of a systematic campaign to suppress any form of dissent or resistance. The Indian state has tried to sanitize the reality of life under occupation through diplomatic channels and media influence, but the lived experiences of the Kashmiri people cannot be concealed.

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A significant turning point in the ongoing conflict came in 2019 when the Indian government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s special status under Article 370 of the Indian Constitution. This bold move stripped the region of its autonomy and was followed by a brutal crackdown on activists, journalists, lawyers, and traders. The Indian government also imposed an 18-month-long internet blackout to silence the voices of Kashmiris. This was part of a broader strategy by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to alter the region’s political landscape in its favor, hoping to engineer electoral victories that would legitimize its occupation. However, the 2024 elections in Kashmir saw a remarkable voter turnout of 60%, a testament to the resilience of the Kashmiri people, who rejected India’s coercive measures and demonstrated their defiance against Modi’s vision of enforced political assimilation.

For decades, India has relied on a variety of oppressive measures to subdue Kashmir. From military crackdowns to attempts at political engineering, the Indian state has tried every strategy imaginable to crush the resistance. Yet, these efforts have failed. The people of Kashmir have proven that they will not be cowed by violence or coercion. Instead of bringing peace, India’s policies have only brought economic devastation, widespread unemployment, and deepening disillusionment. The unemployment rate among educated Kashmiri youth, for example, surged from 21.8% in 2005 to 34.8% in 2022, creating a volatile environment ripe for further unrest. The situation in Kashmir continues to deteriorate, and it is increasingly clear that India’s tactics have only exacerbated the crisis.

The international community must no longer turn a blind eye to the human rights abuses in Occupied Kashmir. While many Western nations may hesitate to take a firm stance against India for fear of damaging diplomatic ties or economic interests, the moral obligation to uphold human rights and justice should outweigh all other considerations. Occupiers must be held accountable for their actions, and the suffering of the Kashmiri people cannot be ignored any longer. The Kashmir Valley, where children grow up searching for their disappeared fathers, women live in constant uncertainty about their widowhood, and the dignity of an entire population is under siege, needs urgent international attention and action.

Pakistan has consistently raised its voice on behalf of the Kashmiri people, advocating for their rights and the recognition of their struggle. However, the responsibility of confronting India’s occupation should not fall solely on Pakistan’s shoulders. The international community must also take responsibility and confront the reality of India’s actions in Kashmir. This means pushing for international recognition of the right to self-determination for the Kashmiri people and holding India accountable for the continuous human rights violations in the region.

It is essential for Pakistan to continue pushing for greater global awareness and intervention, but the effectiveness of these efforts depends on building a broad, international coalition. This is not just a matter of geopolitics; it is a matter of human rights. The people of Kashmir have the right to decide their own future free from the oppression of Indian rule. International actors, including the United Nations, have a moral obligation to ensure that Kashmiris are granted their fundamental right to self-determination, as enshrined in numerous UN resolutions.

The longer the world remains silent, the longer the people of Kashmir will suffer. It is time for the international community to take a stand, not just for political or economic reasons, but because it is the right thing to do. The struggle of the Kashmiri people is a struggle for justice, peace, and dignity – values that the global community must stand for, not just in words, but through concrete actions that end the occupation and bring peace to the region.

Kashmir Day serves as a reminder of the unresolved issue that remains at the heart of South Asian politics. As Pakistan continues to stand firm in its advocacy for Kashmir, the international community must recognize that the just cause of Kashmir will not be silenced by oppression, and the fight for self-determination will continue until the Kashmiris are free. The time to act is now.

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