Kashmir’s distress

In Washington and around the world there is greater attention being given to the situation in Indian-occupied Kashmir and the situation of its people. In the US House of Representatives, a Congresswoman of Palestinian origin urged Congress to put a stop to any use of force against Kashmiri civilians by Indian state agencies. She also said that the resolution protecting Kashmir as a state with special status could not be removed without consulting the people of the region.

At the same time even within India there is an increase in concern over the prevailing state of affairs in Kashmir which has now continued for well over three months. A five-member delegation led by former Union Minister Yashwant Sinha which is visiting Kashmir to monitor the situation on the ground was prevented for the second consecutive day from moving beyond Srinagar. This check in itself indicates that the Indian federal government is extremely reluctant to allow any neutral assessment of conditions even by Indian monitors. Meanwhile, reports continue to come in of human rights violations in the held territory including manhandling of political activists and rape of women. A previous report by the New York based Human Rights Watch had said that thousands of rapes had been carried out in Kashmir since Indian military action against activists accelerated in the early 1980s. There are suggestions that this policy continues even now. The restrictions on visits to Kashmir means it is difficult to ascertain the extent of the atrocities but it is becoming increasingly obvious that they are multiple in numbers and are continuing. The normalcy the BJP government speaks of does not exist. Reports by the Human Rights Commission of the US Congress have also highlighted a failure to recognize the rights of the Kashmiri people and urged the US government to voice these concerns more widely.

There is then some indication of greater global concern to the issues of Kashmiris. Pakistan deserves some credit for highlighting these. More reports continue to emerge with every passing day and even on the previously rabid Indian media there has been discussion on the policies and actions of the BJP government in Kashmir and against minorities. We wonder how long it will take to provide some relief to the people of Kashmir in real terms. Despite attempts to stifle their voice, they have been able to draw attention to their sufferings. It is now up to those outside Kashmir, both within India and beyond it, to ensure that their voice is heard by everyone.