Kashmir Continues to Bleed By Ayesha Zee Khan

The month of July saw martyrdom of Burhan Wani, the freedom fighter from Indian occupied Kashmir, after that a sequence of violence erupted where scores of civilians were injured, martyred by the occupying Indian Army. Guns showered pellets on the protesting unarmed women, children and families who supported Burhan Wani Shaheed as their saviour. Curfew imposed with dozens of protestors left blinded by those millions of pellets showered on them ruthlessly!

Is it for the first time that Kashmir has seen such bloodshed?
No!

Is it for the first time that people protested against the atrocities of Indian occupying army on Kashmir?
No!

Is it for the first time that innocent people became targets of violence imposed on them by New Delhi government?
No!

Is it for the first time curfew was imposed, Internet blackout, mobile services blocked, newspaper dailies shut down?
No!

Is it for the first time that the New Delhi Government unleashed terror on these poor inhabitants of Kashmir?
No!

Kashmiris are dying since 1947, this is the fifth generation of Kashmiris that are protesting against the occupying Indian army, they witness death, bear terror & torture since 1947, their women raped, their young and old abused, tortured, intimidated. These people have been living in such gruesome condition during 1947. Since 1948, India has been denying the right of self determination to the Kashmiri people using brute force against them. It was India that in 1948, took the Kashmir issue to United Nations Security Council. In 1949, the United Nations Commission for India & Pakistan (UNCIP) resolution stated that a free & impartial plebiscite take place in Kashmir. To this day, that plebiscite is denied by the Indian Govt.

In this new wave of violence in Kashmir, many social activists from all across the world condemned on social media. Facebook on the instructions and pressure of the Indian Govt blocked the accounts of renowned activists namely; Mary Scully (USA), Dr. Dibyesh Anand (Oxford University UK), Huma Dar (California, USA), Zargar Yasir (a Kashmiri Blogger), Hamza Ali Abbasi (actor, activist, Pakistan) & Mubashir Bukhari from Kashmir etc. Censorship imposed on the above and many others for expressing solidarity with the people of Kashmir.

The atrocities in Kashmir and the above step taken by Facebook can be linked with Pakistan's vague policy on this issue. Since this current government led by Mian Nawaz Sharif came in power in 2013, no foreign minister was taken into cabinet, instead Nawaz Sharif Sb the PM kept the portfolio to himself and appointed only an adviser for this high profile diplomatic job. Pakistan has been unsuccessful to take this issue up vigilantly at any international forum. The PM has stayed tranquillised till now, when he issued a ceremonial statement after violence erupted following Burhan Wani's shahadat. This government has been focused since this March on giving explanations on Panama Leaks only, their main objective seems solely to stay in power by hook or by crook.

Analysts in Pakistan have given views that such a disconnected attitude by the PM and his government towards Kashmir issue has damaged the cause, weakened Pakistan's case internationally and left Kashmiris at the mercy of barbarism of Indian occupying army. Another view of the analysts is that Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman (party chief of JUI-F) was given the portfolio of head Kashmir Committee in 2008, since that time the Maulana has trotted around the globe on Government expenses, enjoyed extra perks, as the Committees head but done zilch work for the Kashmir cause. He has been unable to engage the European Community, the international community, have a dialogue over the issue and come up with some proposal. Not a single meeting was held by Fazl -ur- Rehman for Kashmir issue. Seems this committee was taken up by the Maulana exclusively for extra buck increase to his wallet, a little fame and free foreign trips! He should step down immediately and let some able person take up this portfolio.

PTI Chairman Imran Khan sees that PM Nawaz Sharif gave a "lukewarm" response to these present violent events unfolding in Kashmir. Khan said "it is shameful that there was no strong political condemnation by the Prime Minister which exposes the reluctance of the government to take any strong and clear position on Kashmir." He criticised Maulana Fazl -ur- Rehman for no ground work done for Kashmir. Khan reminded that "Pakistan is a party to the Kashmir dispute which is not an internal matter of India as it has been a dispute before the United Nation Security Council since 1948."

He demanded that the UN Security Council should take an immediate note of the killings by the Indian Army of unarmed people in Kashmir as it has the ability and responsibility to directly interfere in the region. He pointed out that it was India who took the issue before the UNSC under Chapter V1 of the UN Charter “Pacific Settlement of Disputes”. He said that under the Resolution 47 (1948) the UNSC had “noted with satisfaction” that both Pakistan and India had agreed to hold a free and impartial plebiscite for Jammu & Kashmir.

Imran Khan said that "The killings in Indian-Occupied Kashmir are a gross violation of human rights including the right of people to protest peacefully. This strongly questions India’s claims of being the world’s “largest democracy” which ring hollow in the light of these killings." He strongly stressed that military force is never a viable response to people seeking justice and their right of self-determination.

Imran Khan demanded that the Pakistan government undertake a diplomatic offensive to compel the international community to break its deafening silence on the continuing killing spree of the Indian army in IOK. “But for that the government has to have clarity of policy and it appears the Sharif government has no clarity."

Such strong statement should have come by the Pakistani head of the state or perhaps the head Kashmir Committee Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman! Imran Khan who is followed by millions in India from his cricketing days, who speaks eloquently on issues concerning both India and Pakistan should lead the Kashmir Committee. When Modi/Imran Khan meeting took place in New Delhi, December 2015, they talked on many bilateral issues and closer collaboration.

Pakistani Government and others must understand that Kashmir is the most militarised zone of the world with more than half a million Indian soldiers roaming the streets. That this new wave of freedom fighters is here to stay, because Burhan Wani was not a Pakistani, he was the son of Kashmir, he was not sponsored by any XYZ entity, he represented an indigenous stand. Pakistani flags fluttering from Kashmiri soil are to be taken seriously, usual rhetoric, jingoism and chauvinistic approach will not work this time. As the Chief of the Army Staff said "Kashmir remains the unfinished business of 1947."

About the writer::

Ayesha Zee Khan is a freelance writer, an activist, Head Insaf Blogs, member PTI Social Media Team.

by webmaster@insaf.pk (tkiadmin)