Freedom will definitely dawn in Kashmir

Courtesy:- Moazzam Raza Tabassam

February 3, 2012

Due to New Delhi’s stubbornness and reluctance, the Kashmir valley known as a heaven on earth, is today suffering oppression and tyranny. When the Kashmir dispute erupted in 1947-1948, the United States championed the stand that the future status of Kashmir must be ascertained in accordance with the wishes and aspirations of the people of the territory. The US was a principal sponsor of the resolution, which was adopted by the Security Council on 21st April 1948 and which was based on that unchallenged principle. Following the resolution, the US as a leading member of the United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan, adhered to that stand. The basic formula for settlement was incorporated in the resolutions of that Commission adopted on 13th August 1948 and 5th January 1949.Though the United Nations was able to arrange a ceasefire between the Pakistani and Indian forces on the Kashmir front, but it could not play an effective role for final solution of the Kashmir dispute. The resolutions passed by the world body stand un-implemented even after passage of six decades.The cold war between West and East blocs also had a very negative impact on working of the United Nations. Particularly the veto power used by Soviet Union in support of Indian occupation of territory marginalized the role of the United Nation. However the fact that the Kashmiris continue to demand their right of self-determination and the Military observers of United Nations are still deployed on ceasefire line has exposed the Indian claims that the dispute is an internal problem of India. The world body was supposed to be source of support for oppressed people but in case of Kashmir it failed to give fundamental right to the oppressed Kashmiris yet. The world community has acknowledged the firm commitment and affiliation of the Kashmiri people with Pakistan and its ideology, despite the passage of over half a century.

The presence of the Kashmir dispute before the United Nations is strong evidence that final settlement of the dispute has yet to be made which could be acceptable to people of Kashmir and the World community. The decolonization agenda of the United Nations would be incomplete without resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.How can India claim Jammu and Kashmir an “integral part” when the UN Security Council resolutions had recognized that Jammu and Kashmir was disputed territory and that it was necessary to conduct a free and impartial plebiscite, under United Nations auspices, to determine the will of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. UN resolutions, also clearly state that no electoral exercise conducted by Indian authorities in Jammu and Kashmir can substitute a free and impartial plebiscite to be held under UN auspices. UN Security Council resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir were accepted by both India and Pakistan and are binding on both, these resolutions remain to be implemented.Pakistan has always expressed solidarity with its Kashmiri brethren and stood by them shoulder to shoulder. The Kashmir dispute is the cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign policy and the entire world is aware of Pakistan’s principled stance. Pakistan’s policy on Kashmir is based on the saying of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah who said “Kashmir is the jugular vein of Pakistan. This is also the basis of policy of Pakistan People’s Party which has formulated a clear and categorical stance on Kashmir. The determination expressed by Quaid-e-Awam Zulfikar Ali Bhutto who vowed a thousand-year war for Kashmir, reflecting the true aspirations of the nation. He waged an exemplary, political and ideological struggle to shake world conscience and to raise the Kashmir dispute at international level. The same spirit was pursued by Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto who carried forward the mission of her late father. The Shaheed leader who twice got elected as prime minister highlighted the principled stance for a just solution of the Kashmir dispute. The present PPP-led government has continued to pursue the same policy to stand by their Kashmiri brethren with the same spirit and determination that will not abandon Kashmiri brethren in any case or at any cost. Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani has committed to internationalize the Kashmir dispute and apprise the world about gross human rights violations in the held part and seek its help in its resolution.Pakistan has been trying to make India,US and world community realise that neither the struggle of Kashmiri people could be suppressed at gun-point, nor their movement of independence from oppression be stemmed, for which Kashmir’s innocent and courageous people are rendering sacrifices for the past 60 years. The people of held Kashmir cannot be enslaved for long. It has also been acknowledged by the international community, without any hesitation.In his meeting with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at Sharm el-Sheikh Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani categorically stated that “there can be no peace in the region unless the Kashmir dispute is resolved according to the aspirations of its people. We want to resolve the Kashmir dispute peacefully and have invited India for negotiations, a gesture that it has continued to ignore”.The people of Pakistan are committed to Kashmir cause and will not rest, till the Kashmiris get their right to self-determination and the UN resolutions of Kashmir are acted upon in real terms and the peaceful struggle of the subjugated people of Kashmir reaches fruition.