Call for autonomy

The assembly of Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir has recently issued a bold resolution, calling on New Delhi to reinstate the region’s semi-autonomy – a watershed moment in Kashmir’s enduring quest for justice and self-determination. This move cuts through years of tension, echoing the deep-seated aspirations of a people who have long resisted the erosion of their rights and identity. Backed by the National Conference, this underscores the resilience of Occupied Kashmir’s identity and the determination of its people to reclaim the autonomy stripped away by India in 2019. Under Article 370, Occupied Kashmir had enjoyed unique constitutional protections. The abrupt revocation of these rights by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP has since become a flashpoint of grievance and an enduring symbol of Kashmir’s lost self-rule. This resolution, though non-binding, speaks volumes about the determination of the people of Occupied Kashmir. Since the revocation of Article 370, Kashmir has been stripped of the statehood and protections that once safeguarded its cultural identity. The BJP’s policies have been a heavy-handed attempt to suppress the aspirations of the Kashmiri people, not only by erasing their autonomy but also by subtly attempting demographic re-engineering. Modi’s government, by maintaining such a stranglehold on Occupied Kashmir, has only magnified the desire for self-determination, as evidenced by the regional assembly’s resolution.

This stance against autonomy also resonates beyond the occupied territories, influencing broader Indo-Pak relations and escalating regional tensions. While Pakistan has repeatedly reached out for peace, India’s responses have been dismissive, often hiding behind the rhetoric of ‘terrorism’. And recent reports implicating India in cross-border provocations further tarnish its stance as a peacemaker. For decades, Pakistan has engaged with India on the premise that mutual understanding could someday bridge their differences, yet Modi’s administration has taken a Pakistan-centric approach that has turned this hope on its head. The Modi government has increasingly adopted a ‘big brother’ role in South Asia, treating regional stability as something that should be moulded to suit India’s vision rather than that of its neighbours. This domineering outlook only serves to alienate its neighbours, leaving India isolated in a region where its soft power once held promise.

Yet, history has repeatedly shown that no occupation can last forever. For Kashmir, like other occupied territories, genuine peace will come only when its people are given the freedom to determine their future. The international community must recognise the legitimacy of Kashmir’s demand for self-determination. Kashmir’s call for justice deserves to be met not with an iron fist but with open dialogue. True peace in the region hinges on granting the Kashmiri people their right to shape their own destiny. Just as diplomatic outreach is essential to Indo-Pak relations, it is also the only path forward in Kashmir. The time has come for New Delhi to listen – not just for Kashmir’s sake but for the peace of an entire region that yearns for stability.