KASHMIR SOLIDARITY DAY: HABIB YOUSAFZAI, KASHMIR DIASPORA ALLIANCE
ASSALAM-O-ALAIKUM!
Kashmir solidarity Day has been observed on the
5th of February every year since 1990. It was originally proposed by the late
Qazi Hussain Ahmad (may Allah Almighty place the beloved soul in heaven) of the
Jamaat-e-Islami party Pakistan. This day is about protest; protest
against the dehumanization, humiliation, injustices, oppression and continued
illegal Indian occupation of the state of Jammu and Kashmir [AKA
Internationally Disputed Areas of Jammu and Kashmir (IDA: JK)]. Looking at the history of Kashmir, despite
the clear cut division of the Indian sub continent on religious pretexts, India
legitimized its occupation perpetuating the idea that it is maintaining law and
order. India has forcefully occupied 42,000 square miles of the Muslim
majority state the IDA: JK since October 27, 1947 and has enslaved fourteen
million Kashmiris.
Today, more than six decades have elapsed, and still IDA: JK remains under illegal occupation by more than 700,000 armed personnel of the Indian forces have against the international law in the IDA: JK. These personnel have committed grave atrocities that have left the state virtually devoid of human rights. The Indian regime and its armed forces have killed more than 202,000 citizens, made over 215,000 arrests, caused the disappearances of over 110,000 citizens; more than 115,000 homes have been demolished, leaving 122,792 widows and 207,335 orphans. Indian forces have been committing crimes like rape, torture, and gross human rights violations of the innocent Kashmiris. Likewise, India has murdered over 270,000 innocent Sikhs since 1984, according to figures compiled by various human-rights monitoring groups. It has also killed more than 312,500 Christians in Nagaland since 1947; more than 500,000 Muslims in general; more than 12,000 Assamese, Bodos, tens of thousands of Dalits , (Untouchables the dark-skinned or aboriginal people of South Asia), Manipuris, more than 15,000 Tamils since the 1990s, and many other minorities. All these cruelties have been documented by international human rights organizations such as United Nations, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, International Educational Development, International Tribunal on Kashmir, International Journal of Sikh Affairs 21, 2011, ISSN 1481-5435, Sekhon, AS 2010 The Sikhs: Sovereignty to slavery ISBN 978-0-9811360-8-0, The Sikh Educational Trust, Box 724, 9768-170 St, NW, Edmonton, AB T5T-5L4 Canada, and many others.
The big question is, despite over six decades of occupation in Kashmir, oppression and illegal occupation of not only Kashmiris but many other minorities by the Indian state. Despite functioning of Kashmir Solidarity Day for over two decades, why has the issue of the IDA: JK not been resolved? Why has nothing been done? Despite the awareness of this issue by international human rights organizations and the presence of the United Nations, how come the voices of the citizens of IDA: JK not being heard? The answers to the citizens of the IDA: JK is bitter, and if we point a finger anywhere else and/or other than ourselves, four of our own fingers are going to be pointing back at us; and rightfully so. The fact is the Diaspora of Kashmiris, the representatives of IDA: JK, the fighters for human rights and justice are the reasons. We are failing in our goal to speak out for those that do not have a voice, and for those who are oppressed. We are politically fragmented and divided. We are so far removed from the realities on the ground that we have divided ourselves with the intrusion of the IDA: JK enemy based on our self-constricted views of what we think is right. Hence, trying to shape the movement for justice according to what we believe is right, according to our own terms. What we must realize is that this is not about us. This movement is about the ability to practice religion freely, to feel safe at home, to sleep with a full stomach at night, to be accepted by a broader community and hold an honorable identity not only as a politically and religiously, but as a human being. The movement is about unity, love, respect, and justice. That is what the IDA: JK citizens have been fighting for and struggling for, what they want to be heard for. The question we have to ask ourselves is 'is this what we are fighting for'? Are we fighting for what the IDA: JK citizens are fighting for?
In the international political environment based off anarchy and domination, we as Kashmiris, Pakistanis, Muslims, and above all as human beings must come together first and foremost under one political identity. The idea of separating Kashmir into a country of its own is very far removed from reality, undesirable, and virtually impossible. We must realize that there is a state of Jammu and Kashmir (IDA: JK), and a country of Pakistan that it belongs to. We must unite under this political banner. Until we do this, our movement will go nowhere! India is a regional hedgemon, an international player, and a potential future super power. Kashmir will never get its freedom alone without identification with the country it legally belongs to, Pakistan.
After unification under one political identity, we must continue our pressure not only on India, but on our own government Pakistan to take serious action. We must accept that Pakistan is simply not doing enough. How can we look to the international community, the United Nations, and India when our own nation is sitting idle? This does not mean that we pursue an offensive strategy to invade the Indian state…. In fact, effective viable options do not require such measures. Rather, we must push to pressurize the dominant classes and political elites within our nation who are fattening their pockets and spending ridiculous amounts of money on defense budget under the name of an imminent threat from nations such as India. In reality, we have made no serious moves in decades. It is essential that we accept that our government’s dominant classes have conflicting self-interests that we must change which is hindering them from pursuing the Kashmiri issue with the zeal that it requires.
Only after we have united under one banner, after we have pointed out the lack of action by our own government, can we look at the international community and the dominant powers of the West and the rampant hypocrisy that all of them are emanating with every word they speak about freedom, justice, and democracy. We must pressure the international community to put human life, justice, and freedom by administering a plebiscite instead of favoring lucrative deals with an emerging economic power in India, so to speak (where 80% of population survives on one meal per day). We must put pressure on the United Nations to put sanctions on the (rogue) Indian state which is being treated as and I quote, “the largest progressive democracy of the world.” We must also push the United Nations to use all its means necessary to administer the Plebiscite that Nehru originally agreed to administer decades ago.
Above all we must not forget that the Kashmiri movement is about very basic things, things that in the luxurious lives we lead, we have become far removed from and made very complex. The Kashmiri movement is above food, clothing, shelter, education, jobs… about practicing religion freely, about respecting women and about safety. Furthermore, about unity, love, justice, and God. Therefore, let us move forward, stop useless talks without practice and take the action which we have been fighting for; the unification of Kashmir with Pakistan. First, we must unite as one entity.
Today, more than six decades have elapsed, and still IDA: JK remains under illegal occupation by more than 700,000 armed personnel of the Indian forces have against the international law in the IDA: JK. These personnel have committed grave atrocities that have left the state virtually devoid of human rights. The Indian regime and its armed forces have killed more than 202,000 citizens, made over 215,000 arrests, caused the disappearances of over 110,000 citizens; more than 115,000 homes have been demolished, leaving 122,792 widows and 207,335 orphans. Indian forces have been committing crimes like rape, torture, and gross human rights violations of the innocent Kashmiris. Likewise, India has murdered over 270,000 innocent Sikhs since 1984, according to figures compiled by various human-rights monitoring groups. It has also killed more than 312,500 Christians in Nagaland since 1947; more than 500,000 Muslims in general; more than 12,000 Assamese, Bodos, tens of thousands of Dalits , (Untouchables the dark-skinned or aboriginal people of South Asia), Manipuris, more than 15,000 Tamils since the 1990s, and many other minorities. All these cruelties have been documented by international human rights organizations such as United Nations, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, International Educational Development, International Tribunal on Kashmir, International Journal of Sikh Affairs 21, 2011, ISSN 1481-5435, Sekhon, AS 2010 The Sikhs: Sovereignty to slavery ISBN 978-0-9811360-8-0, The Sikh Educational Trust, Box 724, 9768-170 St, NW, Edmonton, AB T5T-5L4 Canada, and many others.
The big question is, despite over six decades of occupation in Kashmir, oppression and illegal occupation of not only Kashmiris but many other minorities by the Indian state. Despite functioning of Kashmir Solidarity Day for over two decades, why has the issue of the IDA: JK not been resolved? Why has nothing been done? Despite the awareness of this issue by international human rights organizations and the presence of the United Nations, how come the voices of the citizens of IDA: JK not being heard? The answers to the citizens of the IDA: JK is bitter, and if we point a finger anywhere else and/or other than ourselves, four of our own fingers are going to be pointing back at us; and rightfully so. The fact is the Diaspora of Kashmiris, the representatives of IDA: JK, the fighters for human rights and justice are the reasons. We are failing in our goal to speak out for those that do not have a voice, and for those who are oppressed. We are politically fragmented and divided. We are so far removed from the realities on the ground that we have divided ourselves with the intrusion of the IDA: JK enemy based on our self-constricted views of what we think is right. Hence, trying to shape the movement for justice according to what we believe is right, according to our own terms. What we must realize is that this is not about us. This movement is about the ability to practice religion freely, to feel safe at home, to sleep with a full stomach at night, to be accepted by a broader community and hold an honorable identity not only as a politically and religiously, but as a human being. The movement is about unity, love, respect, and justice. That is what the IDA: JK citizens have been fighting for and struggling for, what they want to be heard for. The question we have to ask ourselves is 'is this what we are fighting for'? Are we fighting for what the IDA: JK citizens are fighting for?
In the international political environment based off anarchy and domination, we as Kashmiris, Pakistanis, Muslims, and above all as human beings must come together first and foremost under one political identity. The idea of separating Kashmir into a country of its own is very far removed from reality, undesirable, and virtually impossible. We must realize that there is a state of Jammu and Kashmir (IDA: JK), and a country of Pakistan that it belongs to. We must unite under this political banner. Until we do this, our movement will go nowhere! India is a regional hedgemon, an international player, and a potential future super power. Kashmir will never get its freedom alone without identification with the country it legally belongs to, Pakistan.
After unification under one political identity, we must continue our pressure not only on India, but on our own government Pakistan to take serious action. We must accept that Pakistan is simply not doing enough. How can we look to the international community, the United Nations, and India when our own nation is sitting idle? This does not mean that we pursue an offensive strategy to invade the Indian state…. In fact, effective viable options do not require such measures. Rather, we must push to pressurize the dominant classes and political elites within our nation who are fattening their pockets and spending ridiculous amounts of money on defense budget under the name of an imminent threat from nations such as India. In reality, we have made no serious moves in decades. It is essential that we accept that our government’s dominant classes have conflicting self-interests that we must change which is hindering them from pursuing the Kashmiri issue with the zeal that it requires.
Only after we have united under one banner, after we have pointed out the lack of action by our own government, can we look at the international community and the dominant powers of the West and the rampant hypocrisy that all of them are emanating with every word they speak about freedom, justice, and democracy. We must pressure the international community to put human life, justice, and freedom by administering a plebiscite instead of favoring lucrative deals with an emerging economic power in India, so to speak (where 80% of population survives on one meal per day). We must put pressure on the United Nations to put sanctions on the (rogue) Indian state which is being treated as and I quote, “the largest progressive democracy of the world.” We must also push the United Nations to use all its means necessary to administer the Plebiscite that Nehru originally agreed to administer decades ago.
Above all we must not forget that the Kashmiri movement is about very basic things, things that in the luxurious lives we lead, we have become far removed from and made very complex. The Kashmiri movement is above food, clothing, shelter, education, jobs… about practicing religion freely, about respecting women and about safety. Furthermore, about unity, love, justice, and God. Therefore, let us move forward, stop useless talks without practice and take the action which we have been fighting for; the unification of Kashmir with Pakistan. First, we must unite as one entity.
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