On October 27, 1947, India landed its troops in Srinagar and seized Kashmir illegally. Seventy-seven years later, over a million Indian military and paramilitary forces are stationed there. During this period, millions of lives have been lost, thousands have been injured or disabled, homes have been destroyed, businesses and property damaged. Thousands remain in prisons, while many have been forcibly disappeared. Numerous young Kashmiris and children have lost their eyesight due to Indian army’s pellet gunfire.
This brutality has not diminished the spirit of the Kashmiri people. On August 5, 2019, India unilaterally abrogated Articles 370 and 35A, declaring Kashmir’s annexation, beginning a new era of oppression. Following this unilateral move, Kashmir faced extended lockdowns, curfews, and disruptions in internet and communication, turning it into one of the world’s largest prisons. Innocent Kashmiris filled the jails, and prominent political leaders are still detained. Despite the atmosphere of fear and repression, the resilience of the Kashmiri people is commendable, as they refuse to submit to Indian fascism and relinquish their right to self-determination. Their hearts beat with Pakistan, and young people proudly raise the slogan, “We are Pakistanis, and Pakistan is ours,” aspiring to live as part of Pakistan.
The struggle for Kashmir’s independence began even before the Pakistan Movement. In 1931, it started when police fired indiscriminately outside Srinagar Central Jail, killing 17 Kashmiris. Subsequently, the All-India Kashmir Committee commemorated “Kashmir Day” on August 14, 1931, where over a hundred thousand people in Sialkot demanded freedom.
When the Pakistan Resolution was passed on March 23, 1940, the people of Kashmir supported it, sacrificing their lives in the hope that they would be part of an independent Pakistan after the end of British rule. By every principle of partition, Kashmir’s accession should have been with Pakistan. However, using the pretext of Maharaja Hari Singh’s dubious accession, India occupied Srinagar on October 27, 1947. Kashmir’s Muslim majority rejected this aggression, initiating a struggle. Facing imminent defeat, India took the matter to the United Nations in January 1948, which acknowledged Kashmiris’ right to self-determination in a resolution, though India has since reneged on its promise.
Nearly a century has passed, yet the Kashmiris continue their freedom struggle. “Kashmir will become Pakistan” is the most popular slogan there. Young people desire that if they die, they should be wrapped in the Pakistani flag for burial. Streets in Srinagar celebrate Pakistan’s victories and India’s defeats, and August 14 (Pakistan’s Independence Day) is also their Independence Day. Conversely, India’s Independence and Republic Days are observed as Black Days by Kashmiris. Youth continue to sacrifice their lives; when one is martyred, ten others are ready to take their place. When Burhan Wani was martyred, thousands emerged in his stead.
In today’s climate, where the Hindutva ideology reigns in India, Muslims face genocide, Kashmir’s special status has been abrogated, and it has been annexed, with Indian ministers openly threatening to capture Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. Narendra Modi’s rhetoric is laced with arrogance, while India rejects any talks and employs all means to harm Pakistan, from Balochistan to former tribal areas. Pakistan has unilaterally extended the Kartarpur Corridor Agreement for another five years, while the ruling coalition keeps pushing for negotiations, trade, love, and friendship with India.
Nawaz Sharif tells Indian journalists he wants friendship with India and to meet with Narendra Modi. He even suggests Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif meet the Indian PM. Why this eagerness? How can any talks proceed without addressing the Kashmir issue? How can negotiations succeed without Kashmir at the forefront? Kashmir is Pakistan’s lifeline and an inseparable part of its body. National consensus exists on this, and ignoring it or betraying Kashmiri aspirations will not lead to progress, success, or regional peace and friendship without resolving Kashmir as per UN resolutions.
The core issue between Pakistan and India is Kashmir and its resolution according to UN resolutions. This is the demand of the Kashmiri people and Pakistan’s principled stance, with an agreement with India on this in the United Nations. The Pakistani nation stands behind it, ready to support Kashmiris. A Black Day is being observed across Pakistan to show solidarity with Kashmir.
The message of October 27 is clear: Pakistan’s government, as a party to this issue, must fulfill its responsibility by launching a robust diplomatic campaign globally to highlight human rights violations and Indian oppression in Kashmir. This issue should be presented to the international community, especially the United Nations, European Union, OIC, and other international bodies, to increase pressure on India so that the Kashmiri people can decide their future through self-determination.