How Kashmir Issue can be resolved?

By Zaheerul Hassan

India always refused to accept third party intervention for the resolution of Kashmir issue since she doesn’t believe in reasons Recently, soon after the publication of the news quoting Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif as saying that he had, in 1999, sought US role in resolving the lingering issue, the Indian leadership immediately responded that New Delhi Pakistani Prime Minister statement is not in line with Indian policy on the issue.

The issue is lingering on since inception of both the countries and Kashmiris people despite suffering with more than 100000 killing, raping of women and brutality of children keep on protesting against Indian occupied forces occupation.  Both Sides of Kahmiris observe 13 July of every year as “Martyred Day” that remind them the day is commemorated in the memory of 21 Kashmiris who were shot dead, one after the other, outside the Srinagar Central jail by the troops of Dogra Maharaja, where they had gathered to attend the court proceedings against one, Abdul Qadeer, who was alleged for instigating Kashmiri people to defy Dogra rule.

One 19th April 1931, the Dogra DIG Chowdry Ram Chand stopped Imam Munshi Muhammad Ishaq from giving Eid Khutba (Sermon) in the Municipal Park of Jammu. The incident sparked off widespread protest demonstrations in Jammu city. Ban on Eid Sermon in Jammu was followed by desecration of the Holy Quran at the hands of Dogra troops, which further aggravated the situation throughout the State. In Srinagar, people gathered in Jamia Masjid Srinagar to denounce desecration act and demand severe punishment to the culprits. While listening to speeches of Kashmiri leasers a youth Abdul Qadeer pointed his finger to the Maharaga’s palace and raised full-throated slogans “destroy its every brick”. He was immediately arrested on the charges of sedition. Later, he was to be tried in the court but due to possible public reaction, the court was shifted to Central Jail Srinagar. On 12th July, violent public demonstrations were held throughout the city against the shifting of the court to the Central jail, Srinagar.

On 13th July 1931, thousands of people thronged the central jail Srinagar to witness the in-camera trial of Abdul Qadeer. At Zuhar time, one of the youth stood up and started reciting “Azan’ for Zuhar prayer. He was killed by Dogra soldiers; next youth started the ‘Azan’ where it was left by the martyred youth. He was also killed and in process of completing the ‘Azan’ where it was left by the martyred youth.  He was also killed and in process of completing the ‘Azan’ 21 youth was killed on after the other. This incident of brute killings is a black chapter in the history of Dogra regime. The people carried the dead and the injured with them, formed a procession and paraded the highways and streets of Srinagar, chanting slogans against Dogra brutalities. Complete strike was observed in the city, which was followed by weeklong mourning. This incident shook the whole state and the traffic from Srinagar to Rawalpindi and Srinagar to Jammu came to a halt from 13th to 26th July. Since then, the day is observed as Kashmir Martyr’s Day.

It was the result of the above episode that Kashmiri leadership realized the need to form a political party i.e. Muslims Conference (MC) with a view to wage struggle for their freedom. Later in 1934, States first elections were held and Muslim Conference won 16 out of 21 seats and after two years in 1936 it succeeded in getting 19 out of 21 seats. Indian Congress was upset with this result and tried to create division in the ranks of Kashmiri leadership. On 19 July 1947, MC after considering geographical proximity, majority of Muslim population (80%) religion language and cultural relations, passed resolution to merge Kashmir with Pakistan.

It’s heart-moving to observe that despite a period of 80 years, the Kashmiris are still struggling and sacrificing to achieve their alienable right under UN resolutions for the plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir. Kashmir Valley is one of the most heavily militarized regions in the world with 7 Lakh armed security forces, who indulge in indiscriminate killings forced disappearances, rapes and maiming innocent youth and women.
The data on atrocities by Indian security forces from January 1989 to 2014 are; one, Killings 03932 that include custodial Killings 7096, arrests 120607, structures destroyed and damaged 106o78, Women Widowed 23863, Children orphaned108531 and Women gang-raped 10134.

On 27 September, 2013, Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has urged the UN to play a critical role in resolving the issue of Jammu and Kashmir while giving the rights of self-determination of its people.  He further added that the suffering of the people cannot be brushed under the carpet‚ because of power politics. He called upon the international community to give an opportunity to Kashmiris to decide their future peacefully‚ in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions. He stated that the issue of Jammu and Kashmir was presented to the Security Council in January 1948 and yet the issue remains unresolved after nearly seven decades. The Prime Minister said he has an aspiration for regional peace and stability. He said he shared this vision with leaders in our neighborhood.

Kashmir issue is linked with various issues like water, Siachen and Sir Creek, which really threatening international peace.  The world community was thinking that this South Asian flash point might be resolved due to strong BJP government but unfortunately, Moddi government and his party declared that Kashmir is part and parcel of India. They even threaten that they will capture “Azad Kashmir” (Pakistani Kashmir) in next five years.

On oath taking ceremony of Indian Prime Minister Nirandar Moddi Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has visited New Delhi. At that time the hope emerged that   India might agree for the solution of the long-pending dispute for durable and sustainable peace in the region.Nawaz Sharif has also shown desire about the involvement of the US as confidence in UN is fast eroding as is reflected in rejection of Security Council membership by Saudi Arabia. The Saudi refusal to sit on the UNSC seat clearly indicates that the world body has become useless, unable to resolve conflicts and is acting as a pawn in the hands of the West. While world over terrorism is being condemned and India too talks of controlling the menace but at the same time it is indulging in the worst form of State terrorism in held Kashmir to suppress the freedom struggle of the people. There is a  need of the hour is that the US and international community must take serious notice of the unrealistic Indian stance on Kashmir and find out options to resolve the issue in line with aspirations of the people along with other international issues. The statement by the Indian Foreign Minister has dashed the hopes of solution of the issue but we still believe that the leadership in New Delhi will ultimately realize that without solution of Kashmir issue peace cannot be established in the region for which people are yearning.

Anyhow, Kashmir Issue can be resolved under the UN Resolutions since both countries have fought four major wars with each other. The severity of clash over Kashmir is much more than others dispute. It can become the   flash point of nuclear war between India and Pakistan, thus poses direct threat to regional and as well to global peace.

Disturbing Indo-Pak relationship is further deteriorated because of Indian negative attitude towards the core issues of Kashmir and water. Anyhow, the global community should come forward and intervene in resolving the major conflicts including issue of Kashmir since without addressing these guarantee to peace could not be given.

The writer can be approached through zameer36@gmail.com