Curfew in Kashmir

Honourable Course Director, Respected Deputy Course Director and Dear

Colleagues Assalam-o-Alaikum My topic of speech is the Curfew in Kashmir.
The issue of Kashmir is nothing out of the blue for anyone. But before I can
expatiate on this issue, it’s imperative for me to take a brief look at the
history of this issue.
The issue of Kashmir dates back to the british reign, when the state of jammu
and Kashmir was sold to the dogra raja for a measely 75 lac. Being a
prejudiced hindu raja, he commited many atrocities on muslims and the
struggle for Kashmiri muslims began as soon as 1930. But the issue really
blew out after the partition of the sub continent.
Today, There are many issues which are threats to World peace the The
Kashmir dispute is the oldest, unresolved, international dispute in the world
today. Pakistan considers Kashmir as its core political dispute with India. The
exchange of fire between their forces across the Line of Control, which
separates Azad Kashmir from Occupied Kashmir, is a routine affair. Now that,
both India and Pakistan have acquired nuclear weapons potential, the
possibility of a third war, between them over Kashmir, which may involve the
use of nuclear weapons, cannot be ruled out.
According to the original plan of June 3, 1947, the States forming the then Indian
State were advised b the British crown: "to accede to India or to Pakistan, bearing in
mind the geographical situation of their respective states, the composition of their
population and the wishes of their people." But the Maharaja of Kashmir acceded to
India against the wishes of his people, composition of the population of Kashmir i.e.
77% Muslims at that time and the geographical conditions. A war was imposed by
India in the valley and the Pakistan forces supported the Kashmiri fighters struggling
for their cause. Pakistani forces and the tribes- men gained almost one-third of the
area until a cease fire was imposed by U.N.O In 1948, when Pakistan involved into
the war, India went to U.N.O for help and United Nations passed a resolution that a
plebiscite will be held in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. It means that the people of
that region were to decide either to choose Pakistan or India for allegiance. But
unwillingness of India for the plebiscite delayed the solution of this dispute. India and
Pakistan have different angles to look at the problem. Pakistan believes that seventy
seven percent of the Kashmiris were Muslim at the time of partition. And the
geographical conditions favour that Kashmir should be a part of Pakistan. Pakistan
terms the accession of Kashmir to India as invalid because the Maharaja had a
"Standstill Agreement" with Pakistan. The agreement does not allow for any
accession. But the Indians believe it as their 'integral part' because the Maharaja had a
legal accession to India.
The present situation of Kashmir is getting worse with the UN turning an overt blind
eye to the issue. This brings us to the current state of Kashmir. The Indian
government revoked the special status accorded to Indian-
administered Kashmir in its constitution, the most far-reaching political move
on the disputed region in nearly 70 years.

A presidential decree issued on August 5 revoked Article 370 of India's

constitution that guaranteed special rights to the Muslim-majority state,
including the right to its own constitution and autonomy to make laws on all
matters except defence, communications and foreign affairs.

In the lead-up to the move, India sent thousands of additional troops to the
disputed region, imposed a crippling curfew, shut down telecommunications
and internet, and arrested political leaders.

The move has worsened the already-heightened tensions with

neighbouring Pakistan, which downgraded its diplomatic relations with India.

Frustration, anger and fear have been growing in occupied Kashmir since August 5,
when the Hindu nationalist-led government of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi
stripped the region of its semi-autonomous status and imposed a curfew and a
communications blackout.

The Indian government deployed thousands of troops to the already heavily

militarised region to quell potential dissent. It also cut off internet access, put
politicians under house arrest and shut down schools.

Millions have been left isolated from the world, with concerns raised about
lack of medical supplies in the area. The crisis has upended the education of
millions of children in the disputed Himalayan region, and many have been
caught up in street violence.

Reports from the region also suggest that children — some as young as 14 —
have been injured in actions by government forces.
Following the move, protests broke out in the occupied region. Several elected
representatives as well as journalists and lawyers were arrested or detained.

August 8, Indian security forces had arrested more than 500 people.

The same day Prime Minister Imran Khan questioned whether the global
community would have the "moral courage" to stop a possible genocide from
taking place in Indian-occupied Kashmir. Meanwhile, Indian Prime Minister
Narendra Modi said the disputed territory was stripped of its autonomy to free
it from "terrorism and separatism".

United Nations chief Antonio Guterres called for India "to refrain from taking
steps that could affect the status of Jammu and Kashmir".

As the restrictions continued, journalists were unable to report from the

ground and were forced to hand-carry dispatches out of the disputed region.

On August 9, Pakistan formally downgraded its trade relations with India to

the level of Israel with which Islamabad has no trade ties at all. It
also suspended Samjhauta Express train service between Pakistan and India
as well as other train and bus services.

On August 10, for the first time in six days, Indian authorities slightly eased travel
restrictions in some parts of Srinagar, and people flooded the streets of the city to buy
provisions ahead of Eidul Azha.

When Kashmiris found out that a government official in Srinagar had two
working mobile phones with an outside line, desperate citizens from Srinagar
and beyond lined up to get two minutes of talk time with their loved ones
under the watchful scrutiny of Indian officials.

Continuing its effort to highlight the Kashmir issue, Pakistan observed

Independence Day as 'Kashmir Solidarity Day'. The next day, on August 15,
India's day of independence was observed as Black Day in Pakistan to protest
the ongoing brutalities and human rights abuses in occupied Kashmir.

Simultaneously, thousands of people, many waving Pakistani and Kashmiri

flags, protested outside the Indian High Commission in London in support of
the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir.

Hundreds of protesters clashed with police on Aug 16, as New Delhi claimed it
would begin restoring phone lines after the communications blackout entered
its 12th day.
As the protests continued, for the first time since 1965, the UN Security
Council (UNSC) held a meeting on exclusively on occupied Jammu and
Kashmir, nullifying India’s claim that this was an internal matter.

The next day, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, in a joint press
conference with Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) chief Maj Gen Asif
Ghafoor, said that the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)
had responded positively to Pakistan's calls to take notice of India's actions in
occupied Kashmir, and has called for an immediate end to the curfew.

On August 18, a mere day after curbs were eased, Srinagar residents found
themselves placed under restrictions once more after violent overnight clashes
between police and residents which left dozens injured.

According to officials, Indian troops fired tear gas, chilli grenades and pellet
guns to disperse protesters, in the Rainawari, Nowhetta, Gojwara and Soura
areas of the city.

That same day, a damning report about the number of people detained in the
region came to the fore. A magistrate, speaking to AFP on condition of
anonymity, said that at least 4,000 people were arrested and held under the
Public Safety Act (PSA), a controversial law that allows authorities to imprison
someone for up to two years without charge or trial.

A day later, as tensions continued to mount, Foreign Minister

Qureshi challenged Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hold a public
referendum in occupied Kashmir "if he really wants feedback on the
popularity of his decision".

Meanwhile, amid an escalating war of words between Pakistani and Indian

leaders, Prime Minister Imran Khan asked the world to worry about Indian
nuclear weapons under a “fascist” and “racist” government in Delhi.

On August 19, Trump made calls to both PM Imran and Indian PM, urging a
reduction of tension between India and Pakistan over the Kashmir issue.

Arrests in the occupied region with a view to deter protests continued into
September with Indian security forces, in one instance, detaining 30 people
overnight in Srinagar.

Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) President Sardar Masood expressed

concerns over a "full-fledged genocide" underway in the locked down region,
saying that reports of many offences were not making it out of the valley.
As teens were swept up in night raids, the US urged India to free detainees and
restore rights of Kashmiris.

Pakistan stepped up its efforts to apprise the world of the ongoing human
rights violations in the region and the campaign hit a high at the United
Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session in New York on September 27
when the premier delivered a blistering address calling out Modi for his
oppression of Kashmiri Muslims.

Turkey and Malaysia also voiced their support for residents of occupied
Kashmir at the UNGA.

On October 4, dozens of journalists held a sit-in protest against the ongoing

communication blackout in the disputed Himalayan region, describing the
blockade of the internet and mobile phones as a government-imposed gag.

The journalists, holding placards and wearing black bands, said the
government was muzzling the press in the region and demanded that the
internet and mobile connectivity be restored

Currently, the Supreme Court of India is hearing multiples pleas challenging

the communication blockade in occupied Kashmir, the illegal detention of
children, and the impact of restrictions on healthcare.

So far, however, no order has been passed as petitioners and the people of
occupied Kashmir await some relief.

The treatment of Kashmiri at the hands of this pretentiously democratic yet

practically fascist government of india has been barbaric, unjust and inhuman
by all definetions of the word. No religion or ideology can be used as cover up
for such acts. Denial of Indian government to resolve the issue by a plebiscite
and enforcement of an iron fist and barbarbic reign over the state of Kashmir
unbiasedly depicts the nature and intentions of the Indian government
regarding the issue. Presently, intervention and forceful implementation of a
peaceful and truly democractic solution in the state by authorities like UN is
the only glimmer of hope in this abyss of injustice and brutality. May Allah
ease the pain of our downtrodden and oppressed Kashmiri sisters and
brothers give them the patience and courage to withstand this never ending
endeavor. With that I would like to conclude my speech…………(ending zra
khud add krle mere zehn m ni ari ab)