Desire for freedom

Ever since 1990, Pakistanis have observed Kashmir Day on February 5 to express unwavering solidarity with the people of occupied Kashmir. When this day was first marked, an indigenous resistance movement had emerged, challenging Indian occupation. As expected, India dismissed this resistance as terrorism directed by Pakistan. However, the fact that this struggle has intensified over the decades only proves the depth of the Kashmiri people’s desire to break free from oppression. More than seven decades of repression have failed to crush the Kashmiri spirit, which continues to stand resilient against all forms of authoritarian rule. Despite the justness of the Kashmiri cause, the global response has largely been dictated by economic and geopolitical interests. Many powerful nations prioritise access to Indian markets and view India as a strategic counterweight to China, resulting in an undisguised pro-India bias. This has placed limits on how much Pakistan can achieve diplomatically in advocating for Indian-Occupied Kashmir. Nonetheless, our responsibility remains clear: to keep raising the issue at every international forum and to remind the United Nations of its obligation to implement its resolutions granting Kashmiris the right to self-determination.

More urgently, the world must acknowledge and condemn the ongoing human rights violations in the region. Indian forces continue to commit systematic abuses, from extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances to the use of rubber bullets that have blinded hundreds of Kashmiri children. These acts of brutality highlight the reality of life under occupation – a reality that India attempts to sanitise through its international diplomacy and media influence. A turning point came in 2019 when the Modi-led government revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s special status under Article 370, stripping the region of its autonomy. This move was followed by a harsh crackdown on activists, journalists, lawyers, and traders, alongside an 18-month-long internet blackout aimed at silencing Kashmiri voices. India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) attempted to reshape the region’s political landscape in its favour, hoping to engineer electoral victories that would legitimise its occupation. However, the results of the 2024 elections in Kashmir, with a voter turnout of 60 per cent, defied these efforts with Kashmiris once again demonstrating their rejection of India’s coercive policies and refusing to submit to Modi’s vision of enforced political assimilation.

For decades, India has experimented with different forms of oppression in Kashmir – from military crackdowns to political engineering – yet none have succeeded in quelling the resistance. The failure of these strategies should make it clear to India that violence and coercion will not bring peace. Instead, they have led to economic devastation and widespread disillusionment. Unemployment among educated Kashmiri youth, for instance, has surged from 21.8 per cent in 2005 to 34.8 per cent in 2022, creating a breeding ground for further unrest. The world cannot continue to stand by as India perpetuates human rights abuses in Occupied Kashmir. While many Western nations may hesitate to antagonise India, the moral imperative remains: occupiers must be held accountable for their actions. The Kashmir Valley, where children grow up searching for their disappeared fathers, where women live in uncertainty about their widowhood, and where dignity is constantly under siege, needs international attention and action. Pakistan has consistently maintained a firm stance on Kashmir, raising its voice for the oppressed people of the region. However, diplomatic support must extend beyond Pakistan’s efforts and the international community must confront the reality of India’s occupation.