One year Siege of Kashmir

It has been one year, that 900,000 troops deployed in Jammu and Kashmir to impose a strict curfew. Indian trained troops used excessive powers and draconian laws to suppress the legitimate movement for self-determination, United Nation Security Council (UNSC) has provided them in 1948. India is denying their legal right and defaulter of the UNSC for 72 years.

The situation became worst, when India unilaterally annexed Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh, on the 5th of August 2019, revoking the Indian Constitution, the UN Charter, and bilateral Shimla Agreement. Changed the special autonomous status of the J&K and Ladakh and merged as a union territory.

There was widespread criticism inside India as well as globally. The intellectuals, Scholars, moderate politicians, and opposition political; parties criticized this decision as warned the severe consequences.

UN, International community, EU, US, and global NGOs also criticized and condemned the serious violations of Human Rights and Violations of freedom of religion. Kashmiris, around the world, are protesting and agitating against the Indian Government’s action in Kashmir.

It is one of the longest and largest curfews in the known human history. Indian troops are killing, torturing, kidnapping, detain, and raping the unarmed civilians. Damaging their properties, destroying their business, burning their agriculture, forcing them to give up their legitimate demand for self-determination. UNSC resolutions are legally binding on India to implement, but till date, India is denying.

The 87% of the population in J&K is Muslims, if plebiscite happens, the Muslims will vote for a merger with Pakistan. India due to this fear is delaying the plebiscite. On the other hand, India is issuing domicile to Hindus from other parts of India to settle in Kashmir. Special incentives are offered to Hindus from other parts of India to shift to Kashmir and settle down. Lucrative jobs are offered to non-Kashmiris, business incentives are extended to non-Kashmiris, Property &Agri-land, are offered to non-Kashmiris on priority. India is using all dirty tricks to change the demography of J&K. India wanted to change the Muslim majority status of J&K.

Recently, under a conspiracy, the Indian government sent 60,000 well trained, well equipped RSS youths into J&K, intending to kill the Muslims. Indian troops are shifting the Kashmiri youths to detention camps, which is an advanced stage of genocide. The well trained and well equipped RSS-youth are tasked to conduct a genocide of Muslims in Kashmir.

The people of Kashmir are under siege for one year, and strict curfew has created a shortage of food, fuel, electricity, and medicines. People’s lives are at stake, many are starving with hunger. Young kids are the worst-hit victims. Women are raped as a tool and weapon to humiliate and degrade them.

Indian has surpassed all records of Human Rights violations in the history of humankind. The Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and other NGOs have reported all such violations. Although, there is a complete cut-off of J&K from the rest of the world, as mobile phones and internet services are suspended. There is a travel ban on Media and foreigners to enter J&K. Yet, a fraction of information is leaked to World Media.

Pakistan is obliged to extend its moral, diplomatic and political support to suppressed people of Kashmir. Pakistan is raising the J&K issue at all platforms including the UN. International media is reporting the situation in Kashmir. Yet the International community is silent, is beyond our understanding. May be the International community is waiting till the genocide happened to them they rush for photo-session, making videos, and making reports.

It is strongly appealed to the International community and civilized world and individuals with human consciousness, to act now to rescue human lives in Kashmir. Prompt action is required urgently to save human lives in Kashmir. Any delay might make us repent later on.

Prof. Engr. Zamir Ahmed Awan
Prof. Engr. Zamir Ahmed Awan
Prof. Engr. Zamir Ahmed Awan, Founding Chair GSRRA, Sinologist, Diplomat, Editor, Analyst, Advisor, Consultant to Global South Economic and Trade Cooperation Research Center, and Non-Resident Fellow of CCG. (E-mail: awanzamir[at]yahoo.com).