Kashmir Solidarity Day| Despite the struggle of Pakistan and Kashmiri people| why is a state of Kashmir a disputed area| and for how long| Sania Akhtar|

# Kashmir Solidarity Day

# struggle of Pakistan and Kashmiri people

# disputed area

# Sania Akhtar

On 5th February, Pakistan observes “Kashmir Solidarity Day" to express solidarity with the occupied Part of Kashmir (Jammu and Kashmir).

The idea to express a formal solidarity with Kashmir was proposed by Jamaat-e-Ialami leader Qazi Hussian Ahmad, and the very first Kashmir Solidarity Day was observed on 5 February 1990 by the command of Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif. 

Introduction about Kashmir: 

Kashmir is known as the “Paradise on Earth” because of its lakes and mountains that are covered with snow.

Before 1947, it (Kashmir) was known as the Kashmir Valley, which lies between the Great Himalayas and the Range of Pir Punjal and was the part of the Indian subcontinent at the northmost position. 

In ancient times, this valley was called by the name “Kashyapamar” and is now called Kashmir (the term originated from Sanskrit). 

Then this area was given the name “The Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir, "and during British Rule in the Indian Subcontinent, this state was ruled by the Dogra family (by Raja Gulab Singh Dogra). 

When and why did Kashmir become the disputed area? 

Now the state of Kashmir is a disputed region and claimed by 

 India (Part of Kashmir administered by India known as Jammu and Kashmir), 

 Pakistan (Part of Kashmir administered by Pakistan known as Azad Kashmir) 

and a little area by China (Aksai chin; a portion of Kashmir became a disputed area between India and China).

The partition of the Indian subcontinent was held by mutual agreement (between India and Pakistan) of the Independence Act of 1947, according to which the princely state would be free to decide whether they wanted to become part of India or Pakistan. 

At that time, Kashmir was ruled by a Hindu leader, Raja Hari Singh, but the population of Kashmir was a Muslim majority (77% Muslims and 20% Hindus, according to the encyclopedia). On one hand, people of Kashmir wanted to become part of Pakistan, while on the other hand, Raja wanted Kashmir to be independent, but later Raja annexed Kashmir to India on 24 October 1947. In this way, a war was started between Pakistan and India for the territory of Kashmir, as our founding father Quaid-e-Azam had claimed that “Kashmir is the aorta of Pakistan.”. 

Kashmiri people, along with the support of Pakistani Pathan mujahideen, threw out the Indian army from one part of Kashmir, and today we know this part as Azad Kashmir. 

The Kashmiri people were almost successful, but suddenly Pandit Jawaharlal took the matter to the UN security council in 1948. The UN recommended plebiscite (through a referendum) in occupied Kashmir to solve the matter.

Hence Pakistan and India had to sign a cease-fire agreement, and the UN defined a ceasefire line known as the LOC (line of control) in July 1949. 

Peak of the conflict: 

This conflict reached its peak due to the hostile entrance of China into Kashmir (in Ladakh) in 1962 and the war of 1965 (between India and Pakistan). 

Kashmiris have been struggling for their independence since 1947 (almost 74 years). In this time period, many innocent people, along with the leadership, were also killed; some are missing, and others are arrested in their houses. 

Why have the efforts to establish peace in the region failed? 

Again, the ceasefire was established in 2003.In 2014, Indian PM Modi visited Pakistan, but after one year, India blamed Pakistan for the attack on its airbase in Pathankot. In this way, the scheduled visit of the Indian PM to Pakistan in 2017 was cancelled. 

On 14 February 2019, a suicide attack in Pulwama (the territory of occupied Kashmir by India) killed 40 Indian soldiers. And India blamed this attack on Pakistan. In return, on February 26, India launched air strikes in the region of Pakistan and claimed that their target was the militant. Later, Pakistan will return the piolet to India that was caught during the fight. 

There have been various opportunities to resolve this issue, but due to the continued Indian’s misbehavior, peace could not be established in the region. 

Article 370 of the Indian Constitution and occupied Kashmir: 

The legislative assembly of Kashmir had designed the characteristics of article 370 of Indian constitution. According to which Kashmir has a separate constitution, separate flag and free to enact laws except in the matter of foreign affairs communication and defense. 

Under this article the state of Jammu and Kashmir has a separate status. 

Revoke of Article 370: 

Article 370 clause-3 stated that President can revoke the article by a notification that is supported by the constituent assembly of the state. 

On 5th August 2019 the Indian parliament (by Bhartiya Janta party) passed a legislation to remove the article 370 by the sign of governor. 

The contact of Kashmiri people was cut off from the world by suspending the internet. The former chief minister, Mehbooba mufti was house arrested. 

Pakistan regrated this step and called it “illegal” but India says it's an internal matter. The government of Pakistan called the 5th August as the day of “Youm Istehsal”( the day of exploitation).

 
How is the revoked of Article 370 illegal? 

As the constituent assembly was itself dissolved in 1957 and to remove Article 370, the president has to require the recommendation of the constituent assembly. The question is that currently there is no constituent assembly of occupied Kashmir; then how did the president do it? 

Conclusion:

Since 5 August 2019, the people of Kashmir have been in a lockdown situation. 

In the end, I would like to ask a question: why did it become necessary for the Indian government to revoke Article 370 of the Indian Constitution? 

However, according to Article 371-A, the state of Nagaland has a separate status.  The religious & social affairs of the state of Nagaland are free from the interference of the Indian parliament. According to article 371-B, the state of Assam, according to article 371-C, the state of Manipur, and according to article 371-D, the state of Andhra Pradesh has a separate status in the Indian constitution. 

The answer to the above question is that, as India knows, if a referendum is held, the people of Kashmir will support Pakistan. That's why India wanted to fully control the occupied Kashmir. In this way, the BJP took this step to merge occupied Kashmir in India. 

I end this discussion with the hope that one day this cruelty will definitely end. Because I have heard that; 

“Yaran-e-Jahan Kathy Hain kay Kashmir Hai Janat 

Or Jannat Kisi Kafir ko Mili Hai Na Milay Gi.” 

 # Kashmir Solidarity Day

# struggle of Pakistan and Kashmiri people

# disputed area

# Sania Akhtar