Kashmir Black Day: A Struggle Against Occupation and the Unfinished Promise of Self-Determination
By Aimen Riaz
On 27 October each year, Kashmiris, Pakistanis and people around the world observe Kashmir Black Day, the sad anniversary of the forcible occupation of Jammu and Kashmir by India in 1947. This is a Remembrance Day not only of the unlawful invasion of Indian troops in Srinagar but also a symbol of resistance against decades of occupation, injustice, and broken promises. It stands as a reminder of the incomplete decolonization of the region and of the international community’s unfulfilled pledge to ensure the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination.
The tragedy began when Indian forces entered Jammu and Kashmir under the pretext of a controversial “Instrument of Accession” allegedly signed by Maharaja Hari Singh. This document’s legality has long been disputed, as it was signed under duress after the Maharaja had already fled Srinagar amid an uprising against his oppressive rule. India’s military intervention, presented as temporary assistance, soon turned into a full-fledged occupation. Despite multiple United Nations resolutions recognizing the right of Kashmiris to determine their political future through a free and impartial plebiscite, India continues to deny that right. The promise of a plebiscite, publicly made by India’s own leaders before the UN and the world, remains unfulfilled, turning hope into disillusionment. The events of October 27, 1947, thus mark the beginning of an unending cycle of repression and resistance, a dark chapter that still defines Kashmir’s struggle for justice and freedom.
As Jawaharlal Nehru himself stated on 2 November 1947, “We have declared that the fate of Kashmir is ultimately to be decided by the people. That pledge we have given not only to the people of Kashmir but to the world. We will not and cannot back out of it.”
This ancient dispute cannot be interpreted only as a territorial conflict; it is the issue of human dignity, international law and self-determination. In his influential book Freedom Struggle in Kashmir, Dr. Ghulam Nabi Lone argues that the Kashmiri resistance is rooted in a centuries-old consciousness of political identity and autonomy. He stresses that the people’s struggle is not an outside invention of manipulation but an extension of their previous struggle to get justice and freedom. This perception criticizes the mainstream discourses commonly applied to undermine Kashmiri voices. As Lone notes, “Occupation may control territory, but it can never conquer the soul of a nation that refuses to surrender its identity.”
There is something special about the resistance of the Kashmiris. People have been raised in the occupied land but their need is no less: “Aazadi” , freedom and the right to decide their political destiny. This firm determination is the same that the international law acknowledges in the right of peoples to self-determination codified in the United Nations Charter and restated in the advisory opinions of the International Court of Justice on the same conflicts. Irrespective of the extreme oppression, Kashmiris have never given up their identity or their demand. Massive crackdowns have not stopped peaceful protests, civil disobedience and political movements. The Indian policy of applying force to curb dissent has not prevented the desire of the people. As noted in Kashmir in Conflict by Victoria Schofield, “Every attempt to crush the Kashmiri demand for self-determination has only strengthened their sense of shared identity and struggle.” This is true to a greater extent as the repression usually gives rise to resistance instead of submission.
The absence of the international community and its lack of action have also added to the crisis. Kashmir has since been pushed to the back burner by other world politics over the decades. But as the world conflicts show, unresolved conflicts never fade away, they become compounded. Kashmir, much like Palestine, is a test of the world order, whether the mighty states can still get away with denying justice to nations with impunity. Mahatma Gandhi once said, “Freedom is never dear at any price. It is the breath of life. What would a man not pay for living?” — a quote that echoes powerfully in the context of Kashmir’s enduring struggle.
The UN resolutions on Kashmir should be revived by global powers, international organizations, and civil society, focusing on delivering the right to decide their destiny for the people of Kashmir. This requires long-term diplomacy, mobilization of international legal structures, and media mobilization to address the silence created by the occupation. Justice delayed is denied, and Kashmiris have lived with this reality for generations. Pakistan has been providing diplomatic, moral, and political support to the Kashmiri cause since 1947. However, action is needed in the form of sustained international lobbying, strategic alliances, and better human rights advocacy projects. Kashmir Black Day serves as a reminder that self-determination promises are yet to be met, and South Asia needs a just solution to the Kashmir dilemma. The strength of the Kashmir people, based on their history and international law, is that the occupation can only suppress voices but cannot cancel the will of the people to liberate a nation.
The author is an MPhil scholar in Public Policy and Governance at Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, and is currently serving as an intern at Kashmir Institute of International Relations.