Moon Desk: This year, on February 5, the world will once again experience the unyielding courage and perseverance of over 9 million Kashmiris fighting for their undeniable right of self-determination and freedom. The Kashmir Solidarity Day itself holds the significance of highlighting the entrenched and inspirational stories of Kashmiris followed by intensified and untold events of continued human rights violations in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir IIOJK.
Understanding what “solidarity with Kashmir” actually means is important. At first place it emphasizes upon respecting the just rights of a community (Kashmiris) seeking self-determination. Secondly, it holds the significance of acknowledging and addressing the gross human rights violations in IIOJK. Thirdly, it reaffirms that the Kashmiri struggle for freedom is indeed a struggle against tyranny, surveillance, media blackouts, land dispossession and at large against the ongoing settler colonialism. Lastly, it calls upon the United Nations and international community to reiterate upon stopping Indian authorities and security forces undergoing genocide of Kashmiris since 1947.
Kashmir, a place of infinite beauty, but a disputed territory, is in a state of constant bloodshed, fear and destruction. With over millions of Kashmiris killed, women raped, children wounded and various properties damaged, the valley has turned in to a nightmare for over thousands of Kashmiris suffering from extra judicial killings, illegal imprisonments, detentions and forced disappearances.
The Kashmiri freedom struggle never died. With forced arrival of Indian troops on October 27, 1947, the Kashmiris went under the non ending cycle of gore and trauma. The fake promises of conducting a free plebiscite under Nehru’s government following the declaration of UN resolution 47, the Kashmiri freedom movement intensified in the early 90’s and 2000’s when the Indian security forces brutally killed Burhan Wani resulting in the further escalation of the conflict.
Due to sustained Indian oppression and the ongoing curfew, it is evident that the world now sympathizes with the Kashmiris struggle. Today the world sees hundreds of thousands of people n the streets shouting against Indian authority and at most hurling stones against soldiers equipped with shotguns and teargas. The world therefore sees an imbalance: the stone versus the gun, the oppressed versus the oppressor. The world acknowledges that someone does not have to be a Muslim, a Kashmiri or a Pakistani to support the freedom struggle of Kashmiris but, to be a HUMAN for protesting against the massive human rights violations in IIOJK.
So let 2024 be the year of alleviating human suffering wherever it may be found. Let’s sympathize with the Kashmir cause and express our solidarity with Kashmiris. Let’s make the world know once again that Kashmiris are not alone in their freedom struggle, every Pakistani is with them. Let’s stand together in the pursuit of peace in IIOJK, today and forever.
