Tayyeba Pervaiz Mughal
The Kashmir dispute has been an unresolved legacy of partition between India and Pakistan for decades now. The fascist Indian government has been using nefarious tactics to suppress the voices of indigenous people and bolster its illegal occupation in Jammu and Kashmir. It has committed scores of human rights violations and atrocities such as extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, torture, and rape. The revocation of autonomous status of Jammu and Kashmir by Indian government and its subsequent crackdown on dissent have raised concerns among the international community. India claims that it is taking steps to promote development in the region, but the situation remains contentious and unresolved.
If we delve deeply into history, we will discover that these two bitter rivals have maintained a fragile ceasefire known as the Line of Control LOC since 2003. However, India has persistently violated ceasefire agreements and blamed Pakistan for the unrest. The Indian government has always turned a blind eye to a peaceful resolution to the conflict and remained involved in blame game. Furthermore, the irresponsible behavior of the Indian state and offensive statements by its officials have worsened the situation.
The Indian leaders have persistently made outrageous claims and used different tactics to propagate their false narrative. In 2016, the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a baseless claim in his speech that the people of the Gilgit region thanked him for voicing their rights. Former Indian Army Chief Bipin Rawat allegedly stated that Gilgit Baltistan is a terrorist-controlled part of Pakistan. Another former Army Chief, now a minister in the RSS-led fascist BJP government V.K. Singh made a false claim that Gilgit-Baltistan belongs to India. The Indian defense Minister, Ranjith Singh is quite famous for making such absurd narratives. In 2019, during one of his speeches at Badgam he made offensive statement and claimed that AJK and Gilgit are integral part of India he further went on and warned Pakistan that it will lose territory again as they did in 1971. The GOC of Indian 15 corps (IIOJK), Lt. Gen A.D.S Aujla claimed that “Indian army is fully prepared for action”.
Such ridiculous statements by state officials represent their expansionist mindset and the hostility towards their neighbors. Furthermore, the Indian media too is propagating and feeding fake stories related to Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir.
In response to these statements and baseless accusations by Indian state officials the chief of Pakistan army staff, Gen Asim Munir during his visit to Rakh Chakri sector of LOC on December 3,2022, made a powerful statement in which he strongly condemned the Indian illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir and vowed to defend every inch of Pakistani soil against any aggression from the enemy.
He reiterated Pakistan’s stance that the Indian occupation of Kashmir is illegal and a violation of international law. He also criticized India for its human rights abuses in the region, including the use of excessive and unjust force against peaceful protesters and the arbitrary detention of political activists and journalists.
He gallantly warned India that Pakistan will not tolerate any further aggression from India and will defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity at all costs. It is a clear message to potential threat actors that the government is taking proactive approach to security and planning and is not waiting until the last minute. This is an important approach to take, as it allows security agencies to identify and mitigate potential risks before they become serious security challenges.
Moreover, General Asim Munir’s speech underscores the importance of dialogue and diplomacy in resolving the Kashmir issue. India has never been willing to resolve the issue diplomatically and peacefully and always adopted such steps that escalated the tensions between both India and Pakistan. The India’s unilateral decision to revoke the special autonomous status of Jammu and Kashmir by abrogating article 370 and 35A downgraded the diplomatic ties between them. In wake of such nefarious actions by fascist Indian government he highlighted the need for both countries to work towards a peaceful resolution of the conflict, rather than resorting to military force or aggressive rhetoric.
Furthermore, General Munir’s warning to India that any misconception can result in a misadventure and will always be met with the full might of Pakistan’s armed forces backed by a resilient nation is a clear message that Pakistan is prepared to defend its territorial integrity and sovereignty. This is a sentiment that resonates with many Pakistanis who believe that India poses a significant threat to their country’s security.
In conclusion, the powerful statement by Gen Asim Munir reflects a longstanding belief that the Kashmiri people have been oppressed and denied their right to self-determination by India. Pakistan has consistently advocated for the implementation of UN resolutions on Kashmir, which call for a plebiscite to be held in the region to determine its future status. By calling on the world to ensure justice for the Kashmiri people according to UN resolutions, General Munir is emphasizing the importance of international law and norms in resolving the Kashmir issue. He is also reminding the world that the Kashmir conflict is not just a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan, but a matter of global concern that requires a just and peaceful resolution.
