India has crossed all records of atrocities in Indian Held Kashmir (IHK), even “New York Times” reported “An 18-Month-Old Victim in a Very Old Fight”. Renewed conflict in Kashmir is killing and blinding the young as politicians remain unwilling to find a just resolution to the old dispute.
Kashmir, a Muslim majority area, was supposed to be part of Pakistan in principle. The division of sub-continent was divided into two countries, based on the Muslim majority areas, should be part of Pakistan and Hindu majority areas, should be part of India. Based on this principle, Kashmir was Muslim majority area, but Indian forces entered into Kashmir and tried to occupy. When, Pakistani forces resisted and tried to push back Indian Army from Kashmir, the Indian Government approached to UN in 1948 and sought resolution. The United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 47, adopted on April 21, 1948, concerns the resolution of the Kashmir conflict, to hold plebiscite in Kashmir to seek the willingness of Kashmiris to either join Pakistan or India.
Since 1948, India has been defaulter of UN resolution and suppressing Kashmiris. 800,000 troops with latest weapons and modern tactics are trying to suppress the Kashmiris. India is using all its tricks to control Kashmir. Killings of Kashmiris is a matter of routine for Indian Army. The worst is situation of Children and Women, who are victimized extensively. Even, they do not spare infants like “An 18-Month-Old Victim in a Very Old Fight”, reported by “New York Times” on 19 January 2019.
Human rights abuses in the Indian occupied state of Jammu And Kashmir State are an ongoing issue. The abuses range from mass killings, enforced disappearances, torture, rape and sexual abuse to political repression and suppression of freedom of speech. The Indian Army, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and Border Security Personnel (BSF), have been accused and held accountable for committing severe human rights abuses against Kashmiri civilians.
Thousands of Kashmiris have been reported to be killed by Indian security forces in custody, extrajudicial executions and enforced disappearances, rape of out-numbered women and these human right violations are said to be carried out by Indian security forces under total impunity. Civilians including women and children have been killed in “reprisal” attacks by Indian security forces. Even infants were not spared. International NGO’s as well as the US State Department have documented human rights abuses including disappearances, torture and arbitrary executions carried out during India’s counter-terrorism operations.
United Nations has expressed serious concerns over large number of killings by Indian security forces. Human Rights groups have also accused the Indian security forces of using child soldiers. Torture, widely used by Indian security sources, whose severity is described as beyond comprehension by Amnesty International, has been responsible for the huge number of deaths in custody.
Mass graves have been identified all over Kashmir by human right activists believed to contain bodies of thousands of Kashmiris of enforced disappearances. A State Human Rights Commission inquiry in 2011, has confirmed there are thousands of bullet-ridden bodies buried in unmarked graves in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Of the 2730 bodies uncovered in 4 of the 14 districts, 574 bodies were identified as missing locals. According to deposition submitted by ParvezImroz and his field workers in 2011, the total number of unmarked graves was more than 6,000.
Kashmiris urged the United Nations Secretary-General to take steps to resolve the Kashmir issue. Freedom leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik, in a letter to United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, alleged human rights violations in the Valley. They said a commission should be established to end the cycles of violence and “ensure accountability” as the conflict has consumed many lives in Jammu and Kashmir.
Guterres voiced grave concerns over the escalated worsening situation in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) and urged the Indian government to proceed to negotiation table for the resolution of decades old conflict. UN Secretary-General made these remarks ahead of his visit to New Dehli. On the international forum, the head of world’s body proposed conducting positive talks and a peaceful settlement on differences between arch-rivals – Pakistan and India.
Pakistan was always of the opinion to talk with India and resolve this dispute through peaceful dialogue and has offered dialogue many times. But India always avoided talks and escaping behind many excuses.
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi in his speech at the 73rd session of United Nations General Assembly effectively presented Pakistan’s viewpoint on Kashmir issue saying, “The unresolved Jammu and Kashmir dispute hinders the realization of the goal of durable peace between our two countries.”Qureshi presented Pakistan’s stance that there can be no lasting peace in South Asia without a just settlement of the Kashmir dispute based on the UN Security Council resolutions and the will of the Kashmiri people.“We will welcome the Commission to Azad Jammu & Kashmir, and hope that India too, will do the same,” he categorically stated.
A country, where its own minorities are victimized, especially the low caste. Women are being rapped, India has become the most unsafe country for women. Several cases of rape of foreign female tourists were reported. A country where, just for suspect of eating beef (Cow) people are being killed. It has crossed all records of violations of human rights.
India has been exposed and now it is time for UN, International Community and all individuals with human conscious to force India to rectify its course and respect the human norms and respect the humanity and pull its occupying forces from Kashmir. On the other hand, India failed to suppress Kashmiris with its mighty force for 7 decades, and now they should understand that brave Kashmiris cannot be defeated. India should leave Kashmir the sooner the better, it will be wise decision.
