People say Kashmir unrest to jolt region

People living in Rawalpindi-Islamabad, including Kashmiris, are alive to what's happening in Kashmir valley occupied by India by force in violation of the United Nations Charter and universal human rights. Reportedly, the death toll is more than 30, including the killing of young freedom fighter Burhan Wani.

The Indian oppressive measures reminds one of a young Japanese ophthalmology student who tried to commit suicide in the strife-torn occupied Kashmir because it did not match with what he had seen in travel brochures.

"This is not the Kashmir I've known and read about. I was hurt," were the words of the youth who said he was depressed by the ominous presence of gun-totting Indian army personnel and the absence of happy people."

Koichiro Takata, an ophthalmology student, went crazy as he walked for nine kilometres from Srinagar city airport, and was anxious thinking about all the police guards around him. He stabbed himself several times with a pair of scissors.

"I was afraid and went crazy after seeing so many gun-totting men in the city. I thought my safety is in question and the gunmen will kill me instantaneously," Takata told newsmen.

This incident of March 2003 explained turning of a heaven into hell and the height of tyranny to its people who had been refrained by India from exercising their right to self-determination.

The situation has not changed in any way over the years.

The strength of the armed force, around half a million across the occupied Kashmir in 1990, increased 30 per cent to terrorise and torture men, women and children who struggle for freedom.

The fact is that India, on the pretext of the so-called Instrument of Accession secured through fraud and violence, entered its forces in the state on October 27, 1947, committing naked armed aggression against its people who had already risen against the despotic Hindu-Dogra rule and set up Azad Jammu and Kashmir government on October 24, 1947.

While accepting the Instrument of Accession on October 26, 1947, executed by the fugitive ruler Hari Singh but not validated by the United Nations Security Council, Lord Mountbatten had clarified that "consistently with the policy that, in case of any state where the accession has been the subject of dispute, the question of accession should be decided in accordance with the wishes of the people of the state, it is my government's wish that as soon as law and order have been restored in Kashmir...the question of state's accession should be settled by a reference to the people."

Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, as Governor-General, had ordered the then commander-in-chief to take prompt measures to repulse the aggressive advance of the Indian army to what is now occupied Kashmir. But the Quaid's directive was held in abeyance and a wrong picture presented to him.

In short, it was denial of the right to self-determination by India, despite its repeated acceptance and guaranteed by the UNO that the people of J&K forcibly occupied by India rose in revolt and are still fighting to bring an end to its brutal domination in Kashmir.

Time is now running short for so-called world democrats and peace advocates to avert a flashpoint turning into an inferno in a foreseeable future. The unrest may engulf the region, people say.

All hopes will sink if something tangible is not done assertively and transparently according to the resolutions of the United Nations.

Being passive and indolence doesn't behove the world body when the situation deteriorates fast in the occupied Kashmir where mayhem, carnage, homicide, desecration of the symbols of chastity and honour are order of the day.

zasarwar@hotmail.com