Kashmir’s Day of Betrayal and Occupation

OCTOBER 27, 1947: Kashmir’s Day of Betrayal and Occupation

October 27 marks a painful chapter in the history of Kashmir, a day that not only commemorates the illegal intervention of Indian forces but also serves as a stark reminder of the hypocrisy and double standards demonstrated by the international community in response to human rights violations by Indian forces. For the people of Indian illegally occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIoJK), this day represents the beginning of relentless suffering, a day that set in motion a decades-long campaign of oppression, brutality, and denial of fundamental rights.


By Zain Ul Abdin

The roots of Indian involvement in IIoJK trace back to the period before the partition of India and Pakistan. When the colonial powers decided to divide the subcontinent, the basic principle was clear: Muslim-majority areas were to join Pakistan, and Hindu-majority areas were to become part of India. However, a strategic maneuver by Indian leaders, in collusion with the British colonial authorities, resulted in the controversial allocation of the Muslim-majority district of Gurdaspur to India, giving it direct access to Kashmir. This move was pivotal in the Indian invasion of the region and set the stage for the turmoil that followed.


The real turning point came on October 27, 1947, when the Indian military formally entered Kashmir following the signing of the Instrument of Accession by Maharaja Hari Singh. This document was highly questionable, signed under duress and without the consent of the Kashmiri people. Even more questionable was the fact that the Instrument of Accession was sent to India on October 27 and signed by the Indian authorities on the same day, a physically implausible act given the distance between Jammu and Delhi. Despite these contradictions, India's invasion of Kashmir marked the beginning of a long era of oppression, human rights violations, and political uncertainty for the people of Kashmir.


Lord Mountbatten, the last British Viceroy of India, accepted the Instrument of Accession, but only on the condition that the future of Kashmir would be decided by the will of its people through a plebiscite. However, it is evident that Mountbatten's intervention, rather than a fair arbitration, tilted the scales in favor of India. He failed to ensure the implementation of the plebiscite, a decision that left the Kashmir issue unresolved and gave India the leeway to continue its military occupation of the region.


Since that fateful day, the people of Kashmir have faced an unbroken chain of suffering. The promise of a plebiscite, which was supported by various United Nations resolutions, was never honored. Indian leaders, including Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, assured Pakistan of holding a plebiscite to allow the people of Kashmir to decide their own fate. Nehru’s letter to Pakistan on November 21, 1947, stated that Kashmiris should have the right to decide whether they wanted to accede to India or Pakistan. Despite these commitments, the plebiscite never materialized, with India consistently refusing to allow the people of Kashmir to exercise their right to self-determination.


As the years passed, Kashmiris endured unimaginable hardships, but the worst of it came in the form of massacres and brutal crackdowns by Indian forces. There is long list of massacres including Chota Bazar massacre, Kupwara massacre and Bijbehara massacre and killing of Kashmiri fighters like Burhan Wani.


The abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35A by the Indian government on August 5, 2019, further intensified the suffering of the Kashmiri people. These constitutional provisions had granted special autonomy to the region, and their removal effectively nullified Kashmir's special status. This move was a clear violation of international law and the promises made by India in the past. It also paved the way for illegal demographic changes, with Indian settlers being encouraged to move into Kashmir, further displacing the local population and depriving them of their land, resources, and jobs.


Despite the oppressive measures, the Kashmiri people have never wavered in their resolve for self-determination. They have consistently resisted India's occupation through peaceful protests and armed resistance, despite facing the overwhelming power of the Indian military. Protests, such as those in Ladakh in recent months, have been met with deadly force, as India continues to quell any sign of dissent with violence.

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The situation in IIoJK is one of the most glaring examples of the double standards employed by the international community. When human rights violations occur in other parts of the world, the international community is quick to condemn them and demand action. However, when it comes to Kashmir, the silence is deafening. The hypocrisy of global powers is evident, as they turn a blind eye to the atrocities being committed by Indian forces in the region. it is high time that the world took a stand for the oppressed people of Kashmir.


In conclusion, October 27 is a black day in the history of mankind, a day that marks the beginning of India's illegal occupation and the brutal suppression of the Kashmiri people. The courage and resilience shown by the people of Kashmir in the face of this oppression are a testament to their unyielding desire for freedom and justice. The time has come for the international community to hold India accountable for its actions and to ensure that the people of Kashmir are given the right to determine their own future. It is only through justice and accountability that the suffering of the Kashmiri people can be ended, and peace can finally be achieved in the region.


The writer is a student of Politics and International Relations at the International Islamic University Islamabad and is currently serving as an intern at Kashmir Institute of International Relations. He can be reached at “zainulabdin1690@gmail.com

                                                              

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