Kashmir Solidarity Day in the Shadow of Abrogation

Kashmir Solidarity Day in the Shadow of Abrogation

On February 5, Kashmir Solidarity Day is observed to honor Kashmiri martyrs and express solidarity with freedom fighters who persist in their struggle, demanding their legitimate right to self-determination, as recognized by UNSC resolutions. Four years have passed since the extremist government in India tore the fabric of its secular identity by revoking Articles 35A and 370, stripping Indian illegally occupied Kashmir of its special status. The audacious move prompted the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh, both to be ruled directly by the federal government.


Simultaneously, a strict military lockdown was imposed in IIOJK, casting a long shadow that continues unabated. The tragic tale of Kashmiris began long before the events of 2019, dating back to 1947 when their genuine right to self-determination was denied. Faced with injustice, Kashmiris organized themselves and launched a war of liberation against India's oppressive rule, a struggle that has been met with relentless state terrorism. Since 1989, Indian forces have unleashed various forms of state terrorism upon Muslim Kashmiris, employing brutal tactics such as crackdowns, curfews, illegal detentions, massacres, targeted killings, sieges, house burnings, torture, disappearances, rape, and fake encounters.


To veil these human rights violations, communication services have been systematically cut off and foreign journalists are forbidden from entering the region. Draconian laws like the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and the Public Safety Act (PSA) have been exploited to arrest individuals arbitrarily and suppress dissent. The Modi regime, relentless in its pursuit of demographic changes has amended laws to allow Indian citizens to buy land in Held Kashmir, issued domicile certificates to over 800,000 non-Kashmiris, and registered almost 3 million new non-local voters. In a sinister move, gangs of RSS-BJP volunteers have been permanently stationed in the illegally occupied territory.


Despite the use of chemical weapons, pellet guns, and phosphorus bombs, Kashmiris have steadfastly accelerated their war of liberation, a cause recognized by relevant UN resolutions. One year after India abrogated the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, UN human rights experts urgently called on India and the international community to address the alarming human rights situation in Kashmir, emphasizing the need to investigate all cases of violations. Amnesty International, forced to cease its work in India due to frozen bank accounts, revealed the government's attempt to silence any voice speaking against rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir.


As we react to these four tumultuous years since the abrogation of Article 370, the world must not turn a blind eye to the ongoing plight of the Kashmiri people. The international community bears a collective responsibility to urge India to cease its oppressive tactics, respect human rights, and engage in meaningful dialogue to


Written By: Sardar Waleed Khan

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