Syed Mujtaba Rizwan
Following the killing of Burhan Wani in 2016, the freedom movement gained renewed momentum. In the age of social media, images of Indian repression spread worldwide. Kashmiri youth wrote stories of resistance in blood, while India attempted to silence them through curfews, internet shutdowns, and live ammunition. On 5 August 2019, India unilaterally revoked Article 370, openly violating UN resolutions. By altering IIOJK’s status and declaring it an integral part of India, New Delhi further inflamed the dispute rather than resolving it.
Pakistan rejected this illegal move and raised its voice at every level. Pakistan highlighted the issue internationally, declaring India’s actions null and void under international law. The UN Security Council discussed the Jammu and Kashmir dispute multiple times afterwards; although no concrete action followed, the issue once again gained global attention.
One dimension of the Kashmir dispute is its immense human tragedy. Over seven decades, more than one hundred thousand people have lost their lives, thousands of women have been widowed, and countless children have been orphaned. Mass graves stand as silent witnesses to the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe. India has imposed strict restrictions on international media to conceal the truth, yet independent journalists and activists have repeatedly exposed state repression.
The people of Pakistan have always stood in solidarity with their Kashmiri brothers and sisters. Every year on 5 February, Kashmir Solidarity Day is observed to honour Kashmiri sacrifices. Successive Pakistani governments have kept the issue alive diplomatically, but global indifference has hindered resolution. UN resolutions still exist, but their implementation requires awakening the conscience of the international community.
Kashmir is not merely a dispute between Pakistan and India; it is a global peace issue. Both countries are nuclear powers, and any major conflict could have catastrophic consequences. South Asia’s development, poverty alleviation, and regional cooperation can only succeed if Kashmir is resolved justly.
From an analytical perspective, India’s domestic political interests have significantly worsened the situation. Rather than recognising Kashmiri self-determination, the Indian government transformed the issue into a nationalist narrative. Indian media shaped public opinion by associating IIOJK with terrorism, diverting international sympathy. Yet the reality remains that Kashmiris seek only freedom and justice.
A just resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute remains the cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign policy. Every government have kept the issue a priority. Approaches differed, but the core stance remained unchanged: Kashmir belongs to Kashmiris, and only they can decide their future.
Pakistan also raised the issue within the OIC and other forums. After the revocation of Article 370, Pakistan launched an extensive diplomatic campaign. Pakistan’s position remains morally, legally, and humanly strong.
Historically, the Jammu & Kashmir dispute is not simply a border dispute but a struggle for national freedom. It is a movement that symbolises truth and sacrifice in the face of oppression. The resilience and sacrifices of the Kashmiri people will be recorded in history in golden letters.
If the international community fails to act justly, peace will remain elusive. India must accept that conscience cannot be suppressed by force. Without a plebiscite, no solution can be sustainable. Pakistan has consistently stated it will accept the results of a UN-supervised referendum, provided Kashmiris are allowed to vote freely.
The history of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute teaches that when justice is delayed, oppression intensifies, and when voices are silenced, resistance is born. The valleys of Kashmir still testify that their people live for freedom, their hearts remain aligned with Pakistan, and the day will come when their sacrifices bear fruit.
The time has come for the world to break its silence, for the United Nations to enforce its resolutions, and for India to realise that the Jammu and Kashmir dispute is not a matter of power but of justice.
