THE MAQBOOZA KASHMIR DISPUTE IS PRIMARILY A MATTER OF SELF-DETERMINATION NOT ACCESSION TO PAKISTAN, INDIA, OR INDEPENDENCE. ALL THESE OPTIONS ARE AFTER THE FACT, SECONDARY ISSUES WHICH ARE DEPENDENT ON THE KASHMIRIS ABILITY TO EXERCISE THEIR RIGHT OF SELF-DETERMINATION WHICH THE INDIAN STATE IS A FUNDAMENTAL IMPEDIMENT TOWARDS: HABIB YOUSAFZAI, KASHMIR DIASPORA ALLIANCE
After receiving freedom from the British, the Indian government was able to mobilize a small minority of the Sikh population and occupy the Sikh Homeland Punjab (Khalistan) of August 15, 1947. The Indian government also forcefully occupied Hyderabad, Junaghar, Munwadar, and just as it had done in Punjab (Khalistan), a few Kashmiris also succumbed to India interests. Because of a small minority of Kashmiris sold out, India was able to legitimate its occupation under the guise of maintaining law and order and successfully occupy 42,000 square miles of Jammu and Kashmir also known as Maqbooza Jammu and Kashmir. Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru the then Prime Minster of India propagated to the international community that Kashmiris will be given a chance to express their own free will for their future.
However, as a precursor to this event in the third week of August 1947, the Maharaja of Kashmir Hari Singh, with the help of the Indian government killed more than 100,000 inhabitants of Jammu and the rest were given a stern warning to either leave the area, or prepare to die. As a result two million Muslim Kashmiris left the Jammu region and migrated to Pakistan. Due to the fact that Pakistan did not possess enough forces to fight, they called upon the help of Kashmiris and Pathans (Mujahedeen). They were able to free 4,200 square miles which is now known as Azad Kashmir. This group would have been successful in liberating the entire region; however, due to a few traitors who sided with those that just massacred their own people, Maqbooza Kashmir remains occupied by the Indian government for over six decades.
The fact remains that even until this day the original promise of fulfilling the Kashmiri peoples will has yet to be exercised by people of Kashmir. Their ability to practice this basic democratic right is being fundamentally impeded by one single actor on the table; the Indian government. It is essential to note that despite having no claim whatsoever to the region; India refuses to provide the people of Maqbooza Kashmir with the ability to determine their own fate. It is surprising than to note that some individuals within Azad Kashmir, similar to those who originally sided with the Indian government, and who are only concerned with their own political and material interests are propagating a very regressive message against the Pakistani government and damaging to the overall Kashmiri cause. Yet, the Pakistani government is the only political actor which supports the right to self-determination and that possesses agency in the international sphere, and, conversely, the only state with any legal claim to the territory and the people of Maqbooza Jammu and Kashmir. It is than India that is serving as the roadblock to solving the Maqbooza Kashmiri issue. It is also worth noting that many of these ill-informed individuals who speak out against their own state which has ironically sacrificed countless lives and are comfortably living without systematic oppression would never be able to speak out in occupied Kashmir.
The principle of “the victor’s justice” is thus only applicable to the Indian government as it is not even a legitimate actor within Kashmir and is trying to assert its position despite its illegal occupation on a Muslim majority Princely State (all the Hindu majority Princely States that were occupied or acceded to the Indian government). The original solution at the time of partition was the ‘Two Nations Theory’. The right of self-determination remains the only viable solution to the Kashmiri issue. Through this means can the people of Maqbooza Jammu and Kashmir decide themselves as to whether they would like to join Pakistan or India. Until then, all onlookers must reserve their judgment and put pressure on the Indian government as it is not only an illegitimate actor, but it is the one state fundamentally impeding Maqbooza Jammu and Kashmir’s right to self-determination.
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