Since the partition of the Indian subcontinent into India and Pakistan in 1947, the Kashmir dispute has been an intractable one between the two countries. India and Pakistan fought three wars over it in 1948, 1965, and 1999, but have not been able to resolve it.
Ultimately, Indian forces intervened and captured the state of Jammu and Kashmir. From that day Kashmir dispute has been the core issue between Pakistan and India, which also had kept the security of entire South Asia at stake because of their extensive nuclear capability.
Diplomatic efforts of Pakistan
Whether it is the diplomatic efforts of Pakistan in raising the Kashmir issue, or that the world is finally managing to find its moral compass, it seems that the plight of Kashmiris is finally being heard in the United States particularly among Democrats.
Prime Minister Imran Khan continuously repeated that he would become the ambassador of the Kashmiri people to raise their issues.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Imran Khan delivered another historic speech in the UN General Assembly and exposed Indian’s atrocities on Kashmiris before the entire world.
PM Khan’s speech on the Kashmir issue
On Friday, Prime Minister Imran Khan addressed the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly through video link and once again raised the Jammu and Kashmir issue in front of the international community.
PM Imran while highlighting grave human rights violations in the Indian occupied territory said that peace was not possible in South Asia unless the Kashmir dispute is resolved.
Military siege
The valiant people of Kashmir are struggling for their self-determination and freedom for the past 72 years and are constantly facing brutalities and atrocities of the occupying Indian forces.
Since the illegitimate elimination of the special status of Kashmir, the helpless people of the region have been locked up in their own homes to date. The depressed people of Kashmir are virtually cut off from the world and the system in the restive valley has been paralyzed.
The prime minister spoke about the “military siege” orchestrated by the Indian occupation in the area. “An extra-judiciary murdered hundreds of Kashmiris in fake encounters, and refused to even hand over their bodies.”
PM urged the world community to investigate the issue
Security Council has reviewed the Kashmir issue thrice in the past one year, he said and urged the international community to probe the serious violations committed by the Indian authorities.
He said India’s actions were an attempt to “obliterate the distinct Kashmiri identity”. He further cited that this was against the Geneva Convention, council resolutions, and international laws. He said that the Pakistan government was steadfast in helping “Kashmiri in their legitimate struggle for self-determination”.
Peace not possible without addressing the Kashmir issue
The premier said it would not be possible to have peace in the subcontinent until the Kashmir dispute was resolved, and urged the UN Security Council (UNSC) to take “enforcement actions” to put off a disaster.
Pakistan’s desire for peace and stability is shown through its actions in trying to obtain peace in Afghanistan, PM Imran added. He reiterated that military action is not the correct path, and urged Afghan leaders to seize this historic opportunity to achieve reconciliation” and to arrive at a political settlement.
Modi’s aggressive ‘Hindutva’ project
In 2019, it has once again proved momentous, when PM Narendra Modi’s government revoked the autonomy of Indian-administered Kashmir – a status provided for under the Indian Constitution.
This latest move was a manifesto pledge from Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which claims that Kashmir’s autonomy has hindered its development while fostering an area of thriving terrorism and smuggling.
The main aim of the project was that Modi’s BJP is brazenly trying to change Kashmir’s ethnic composition to disadvantage India’s Muslim minority by encouraging more Hindus into the region.
Soon, thousands of troops were deployed and the valley region faced unprecedented lockdown. Modi’s move to tether the Muslim majority of Kashmir is a gamble that could trigger conflict with Pakistan while reigniting an insurgency that has already cost tens of thousands of lives.
New political map
In an unprecedented step, Prime Minister Imran Khan unveiled the new political map of Pakistan which also shows Indian-occupied Kashmir as part of the country. The symbolism of the move cannot be dismissed as it will reinforce our commitment to the long-standing dispute.
This will now be the new official map of Pakistan as it has been approved by the federal cabinet and will be used in schools and colleges. The map shows Kashmir as a disputed territory and states that its final status will be decided in line with UN Security Council resolutions. The world is given a reminder that it has not honoured its promise to allow Kashmiris the right to self-determination.
UN chief and Kashmir dispute
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has patently said that the human rights in illegally annexed Kashmir should be respected.
Earlier during his visit to Pakistan, the UN chief showed deep concerns over the unpleasant issues in occupied Kashmir and constant ceasefire violation along the Line of Control.
Guterres stressed the importance of exercising maximum restraint and advised both countries to resolve outstanding issues through dialogue which India doesn’t want to do.
The United States, Turkey, Malaysia, and other civilized countries have acknowledged the violation of human rights in annexed Kashmir and the United Nations can’t be absolved from this longstanding issue by merely teaching respect for humanity.
Threats for World War III
Indo-Pak tensions are especially dangerous because they bring two nuclear states on the brink of war. India and Pakistan need to engage in combined bilateral talks on all important issues.
Continuing tensions over Kashmir will weaken any initiative to bring stability to South Asia as well as bring about the risk of a nuclear war. It will be quite right by assuming that Kashmir is the root cause of much of the militancy in South Asia.
It is quite essential for the world community to realize that peace and stability in South Asia can only be guaranteed if all outstanding disputes between Pakistan and India, including the Kashmir dispute, should be resolved because Pakistan has become a frontline state against the Global War of terrorism.
With this nuclear threat ever-present, the situation in Kashmir is now one of the most dangerous in the world. Since the two countries have consistently failed to make any progress, external help from the international community and the UN is crucial in resolving the conflict and preventing further escalation.
The best solution of the Kashmir dispute could be the right to self-determination which should be given to Kashmiris in order to give them the right to decide to whom they want to accede.
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