August 5, 2019, is the darkest day for the state of Jammu and Kashmir. On this day, India revoked the special status of the state by abrogating its Articles 370 and 35A, which was aimed at altering the demographic proportions of the Indian-occupied region of Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian government, particularly Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP), through the abrogation of these Articles, disregarded international agreements including the United Nations resolutions and the Geneva Conventions, and unilaterally made a decision against the will of the people of Kashmir. This action exposed India’s claims of being a democratic nation as hollow, where the rights of minorities are being suppressed through oppressive measures.
Following the revocation of Articles 370 and 35A, the Indian government began a campaign to change the demographics of the occupied region by settling non-resident Hindus in large numbers. The abrogation of Article 370 is a blatant violation of international agreements, including UN Security Council resolutions 38, 47, 51, 91, and 122, and is a clear defiance of the rights of the Kashmiri people. It also goes against the Shimla Agreement between Pakistan and India. India has consistently used draconian laws to suppress the voices of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, aiming to quell their aspirations for freedom, but these efforts have met with persistent resistance.
President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry, and Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Chaudhry Anwar ul Haq, declared August 5th as a day of Kashmir Solidarity to protest against India’s expansionist and oppressive ambitions and the continued incarceration of Kashmiris for 1460 days. On this day, the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan, and Kashmiris residing around the world are raising their voices, sending a message that India is not only a threat to Kashmiris but also to the peace of the entire South Asian region.
The Modi government, through its illegal annexation of occupied Kashmir, is altering the demographic balance by changing domicile laws. This move is not only a clear violation of international laws but also erases the historical status of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, which has been shaped over centuries. The revocation of Articles 370 and 35A has detached the regions of Jammu and Ladakh from the Valley, allowing non-residents, including any non-state Indian, to buy land and seek government employment there.
While India has employed tactics of coercion, military power, and oppressive actions, the mindset of the Kashmiri people remains unaltered. Even today, people across the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir, including the Valley and Ladakh, who have sacrificed their lives for the cause of freedom, are buried wrapped in the Pakistani flag, and they chant slogans in favor of Pakistan. The Kashmiri nation is unique in that it has sacrificed countless lives and resources for its fundamental and legitimate right to self-determination, yet this struggle remains unheard by the global community.
Pakistan’s government and its people have consistently supported the Kashmiri cause politically, diplomatically, and morally. President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry, has taken a leading role as an advocate for the rights of Kashmiris and has embarked on diplomatic efforts, including engaging with the United States, United Nations, European Union, and other countries, to highlight the issue of Kashmir. It has become evident to the world that the BJP-led Indian government not only threatens the people of illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir but also poses a danger to all minorities, including Muslims, within India who are not safe from the extremist ideologies of the RSS and the followers of Hitler.
Pakistan’s government and its people stand by the Kashmiris and are grateful for their unwavering support for the political, diplomatic, and moral advocacy of their rights. The Kashmiri people hope that Pakistan’s legal representatives will continue their peaceful struggle for their freedom until the illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir is liberated from India’s clutches. On the occasion of August 5th, we must unite with full strength and solidarity, protesting against India’s oppressive and illegal actions, so that the sacrifices of the Kashmiris, given in the millions, may lead them to their cherished right to self-determination and freedom.