Like every year, Kashmir Solidarity Day is being observed today, on 5th February, in Pakistan and across the world where Kashmiris and Pakistani diaspora exists. The day is a significant annual occasion, as it is marked as a show of solidarity with the people of Indian-administered Kashmir and to express support for their right to self-determination. The day serves as a reminder to the world about the forgotten promise made to stranded Kashmiris about 73 years ago in United Nations Security Council (UNSC). It also holds a significance in context of prevailing human rights situation inside the Valley, where Indian occupying forces are committing heinous crimes against humanity.

There have been numerous human rights violations in Indian-administered Kashmir, including the use of excessive force by security forces, restrictions on freedom of speech and assembly, and the arbitrary detention of individuals without trial. Additionally, there have been regular incidents of torture, extrajudicial killings, and enforced disappearances by Indian occupying forces on a daily basis. Indian government always deny the reports of these crimes by its forces but at the same time Kashmir is a no-go area for international press so that they can verify facts independently.

Kashmir issue was a political dispute initially between India and Pakistan, but due to Indian hegemonic designs and repeated denial to the appeals of right of self-determination by local Kashmiris turned it into a human crisis. After August 2019’s actions by Delhi when article 35-A and 370 of Indian constitutions were removed from Indian constitution by BJP/RSS Hindu supremacist government, Kashmiri Muslims are faced with a real threat of extinction. This neither a conspiracy theory nor a political rhetoric, instead this is writing on the wall considering the actions of Indian government, promises and sloganeering of RSS/VHP gangs, and criminal silence by international community. Indian actions of August 2019 were aimed to find a lasting solution of the issue where India wants to change the demography of the region so that a phony plebiscite can be held in the valley as promised by Indian in UNSC. But the issue becomes a far more serious human right problem when analyzed in the context of overall approach of RSS/BJP/VHP led government towards Indian Muslims, even within mainland India.

There is hardly a doubt left that the present Indian government is not only creating the environment of a mass genocide of Muslims in India, but it’s also acting as partner in crime as many of the sitting Ministers in Indian government are holding public rallies inciting Hindu masses to carryout slaughter of local Muslims. Many Hindu fanatic leaders holding political positions have promised to eradicate all Muslim population from India, including Jammu and Kashmir. Indian government has already divided the region into two union territories based on religious demography. Jammu has majority Hindu territory while Valley is dominated by Muslim population. This division is also an indicator that India is preparing for a charade plebiscite after changing the demography of Kashmir for which permits of residents are being issued to Indian army, police, paramilitary forces and others to buy properties. There is a clear and present danger that Kashmiris will meet the same fate on their own lands which Palestinians met.

Kashmir is a regional stability issue as well. Since BJP’s being into power, India has tried many times to stir a regional conflict using false flag operations. Starting Parliament attack in 2001 to 26/11 to Pulwama attack in 2019 were all done by hardcore militant Hindu extremist elements within Indian military establishment on the behest of their political leaders in Indian political elite. Pakistan and India came to the brink of nuclear exchange in 2019 when India for the first time, since 1971, used its air power against Pakistan. Pakistan’s prompt reply and clear determination of thwarting any misadventure kept Indian nefarious designs in check and the region avoided a massive human crisis. But the question remains how long this difficult peace between India and Pakistan will prevail in the presence of Hindutva ruling elite and protracted unsolved issues like Kashmir?

Usually, Kashmir Solidarity Day is marked with speeches, rallies and demonstration across Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir to raise awareness about the issue and ongoing human rights violations by Indian occupying forces. It’s high time for Pakistan to revisit the strategy to highlight Kashmir as a serious human rights and security issue across the world. Pakistan needs to engage with global media more proactively about Indian future designs and seek alliances with international partners with credible voices to highlight this issue in foreign societies instead of relying on old bilateral engagements with other countries. We need to create local pressures from as many countries as possible so that the world can act in a meaningful manner on Kashmir instead of giving diplomatic statements where usually Pakistan gets the blame due to India’s bigger economic clout. New challenges demand innovation in statecraft and Kashmir is lifeline of Pakistan strangled by India, there are no reasons for us to keep striving to showcase what India has been doing there since decades. One venue of this fight is social media where a lot can be done to highlight the core issue, Pakistan’s principled stance, the plight of common Kashmir due to Indian atrocities.

Shahzad Masood Roomi

Shahzad Masood Roomi is founding member and, editor security and geopolitics at GCW. He is IT graduate and has more than 10 years experience of being a  geopolitics and defense affairs analyst. He focuses on IR, geopolitics, strategic studies, maritime security, cybersecurity issues, military aviation, history and geography. His work has published in national and international media outlets.