Seventy -Nine years ago….Indian Forces brought freedom to the people of Jammu and Kashmir from the clutches of a murderous ravaging horde of tribals (Kabailis) thrust upon them by the evil machinations of the Government of Pakistan (and trained and backed by the Pakistani Army). They refused to honour the wish of the Kashmiris to remain an independent state peacefully coexisting between India and Pakistan. These invaders looted, plundered, pillaged and raped their way towards Srinagar, wrecking death and destruction on the very population, they claimed to make their own citizens! Even Christian nuns (old and young alike) managing the St Josephs Mission hospital were not spared the rape and looting! Thus, realizing the impossibility of remaining independent, the people of Kashmir chose wisely and acceded to India. In a few days, Indian forces drove the Pakistanis out of most of Kashmir till the UN mandated plebiscite allowed Pakistan to illegally continue occupying certain captured areas of J & K (POJK). The UN Resolution thereafter brought out to allow the peaceful resolution remained a non-starter with Pakistan not even implementing the first of the step wise resolutions. Subsequently, after the signing of the Simla Accord in 1972, the UN Resolutions lost their relevance.
The people of Pakistan Occupied J&K over the past 79 years have seen immense hardships, sufferings and repression by the Pakistani military and utmost contempt by the Pakistani establishments. Looting of the mineral and water resources of the region to provide comforts to the Punjabi and Sindhis who rule Pakistan, continued oppression by the military, kidnappings and disappearance of voices who raise their legitimate grievances, has turned this paradise into a hell under Pakistan. While the people of Jammu and Kashmir thrive under Indias economic progress and stability of democracy, their cousins across the LOC continue to pine for basic necessities such as food, clothing and jobs (other then being forced into terrorism). Still, the voices of freedom from Pakistani illegal rule are difficult to bury. The sacrifices made by generations of POK men, women and children stand a powerful testament to their enduring commitment to freedom, dignity and justice.
Pakistan and its military has continued its efforts to suppress legitimate political expression and silence the voices representing the aspirations of the people of POJK. Puppet governments and a puppet Prime Minister in POJK tries to bring about an illusion of democracy, but the prolonged illegal detainments, disappearances, and brutal silencing of the voices of the people of POJK remains deeply concerning further underscoring the need for due process, supervised elections (free from Pak army control), protection of fundamental rights and greater international human rights attention to the situation POJK. On the other hand India continues to move forward with economic reforms to bring prosperity to Jammu and Kashmir. In fact the GoI budget for J&K far surpasses the Pakistan National budget itself!
On 05 Aug 2019, the Government of India abrogated the temporary provisions of Art 370 through an act of the Parliament, thus further integrating the people of J&K into the growth story of the fourth largest economy in the World. The subsequent years have seen an increase in tourism, happiness, jobs and investments flow into the state of J & K. On the other hand, daily protests against the repressive rule of the Pakistani military continues across the restive areas of POJK, with people demanding basic freedoms and prosperity, seeing the progress across the border. India has consistently called upon Pakistan to withdraw from this illegal occupation and allow the divided people of POJK to regain their self esteem and growth like their cousins in J&K. Pakistan’s refusal to implement Stage 1 of the UN resolutions in 1948 and subsequent non-adherence to even the bilateral Simla Agreement in 1972, has placed Pakistan in a precarious position of defending the indefensible whilst continuing to wreak havoc and oppression on the citizens of Pakistan Occupied J&K (POJK).
India’s position on Kashmir remains clear, consistent and principled. This has been made clear in each and every international forum, where Pakistan has mischievously tried to foment false allegations and obfuscation. India maintains that the whole of J& K remains an integral part of India and the only issue to be resolved is the return of the illegally occupied portion of J&K by Pakistan.
The UN Resolutions – What Pakistan Hides!
While Pakistan continues to quote the UN Resolutions as not having been implemented by India which has resulted in the non-resolution of the Kashmir issue, a basic reading of the UN Resolutions would make it very clear that these resolutions were in three parts, with each part subject to the implementation of the preceding part by the two countries. UN Resolution 47 (1948) called for a three-step process, in which Step 1 was for Pakistan to withdraw tribesmen and Pakistani nationals who entered Jammu and Kashmir for fighting. The remaining steps were to be implemented on successful completion of Step 1. However, Pakistan refused to implement even this basic first step, thus voiding the UN resolution of 1948 in totality. The continued harping on UN Resolution cannot hide the fact that the non-implementation od Step 1 itself by Pakistan was the reason that the UN Resolution failed to achieve its mandate. Subsequently, the 1972 Shimla Agreement, signed by the Governments of India and Pakistan, agreed to resolve all issues henceforth in a bilateral manner.