27th October – The birth of Kashmiris’ resilient struggle for self-determination

Islamabad: The people of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir braving the Indian brutalities have been continuing their peaceful struggle to achieve freedom from India for the last over seven decades.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the origin of the Kashmiris’ struggle for resilience can be pinpointed to the 27th of October, a date deeply embedded in the collective conscious of Kashmiris as the infamous Black Day. On October 27 in 1947, India made an audacious move, forcibly taking control of Jammu and Kashmir against the fervent wishes of the Kashmiri people.

IIOJK, a land with a Muslim-majority population, held the power to decide its destiny. This power was granted under the Partition Plan of 1947. The people of Jammu and Kashmir had anticipated joining Pakistan, aligning with their cultural and religious ties. However, India’s unilateral decision on August 05, 2019, shook the very foundation of their aspirations. In the aftermath of this decision, a storm of injustice and inhumanity descended upon the region.

Successive Indian government, in their quest to suppress the voices of dissent, resorted to censorship and oppression. They labeled the Kashmiris’ struggle for self-determination as terrorism and Islamic radicalization, a twisted narrative that failed to capture the truth.

Amidst this tumultuous journey, the people of occupied Kashmir found themselves facing draconian laws and restrictions on their religious freedoms. Mosques and religious gatherings bore the brunt of unwarranted surveillance, and socio-religious organizations faced bans. But the Kashmiris’ spirit remained unbroken. India’s attempts to engineer a demographic shift by issuing fake domiciles to non-Kashmiris were met with resilience.

The Kashmiri people refused to accept the erasure of their identity and culture. The cultural heritage of IIOJK, a wellspring of resilience and unity, became an additional battleground in the struggle. India sought to rewrite history by altering the names of Muslim historical sites and changing the official language. However, the echoes of Kashmir’s rich cultural heritage remained alive in the hearts of its people.

This tale is not just about Kashmir but about a larger struggle for self-determination and freedom. The conflict in Kashmir is an international issue, acknowledged by the United Nations Security Council resolutions. India must be held accountable for continuous violations of international laws and for its unilateral decisions in IIOJK. In IIOJK’s story, war is not the hero; it is dialogue, diplomacy, and international cooperation. Pakistan, a steadfast supporter of Kashmiris’ rights, can be a guiding light. By establishing Kashmir institutes and promoting scholarly work, it can comprehensively address the Kashmir conflict’s multifaceted dimensions.