NOVANEWS
By Sajjad Shaukat
People belonging to various segments of society including political parties and other important
dignitaries came out on the streets of London in UK on October 26, this year, and participated in
the Kashmir Million March to express solidarity with the citizens of Indian-held Kashmir in their
decades-long struggle for the right of self-determination. It started from the Trafalgar Square and
concluded at 10 Downing Street to protest against the human rights violations by Indian troops in
the Indian-occupied Kashmir.
Despite the sinister efforts of Indian high officials and media to sabotage the Kashmir Million
March, it held in the heart of London. In this regard, some Indian-backed miscreants threw
bottles at the stage from where the participants of the March were to be addressed. In this
respect, former prime minister of Azad Kashmir, Barrister Sultan Mehmood said India’s
sympathizers tried to sabotage the procession. He elaborated, “We have gathered here to express
solidarity with the people of Kashmir and to draw attention of the international community
towards Kashmir issue,” adding, that “this struggle would continue till the independence of
Addressing the gathering, Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry, British parliamentarian Lord
Nazir and other speakers said, “There is a need for the united efforts so that a message can be
given to the international community that there would be no peace unless Kashmir issue is
resolved…the Kashmir issue must be resolved in the light of UN resolutions…if a referendum
about freedom of Scotland can be held, then similar thing can be arranged for Kashmiris too.”
It is notable that India has started a propaganda campaign regarding Kashmir. In this context,
India claimed that on October 25, 1947, the then ruling Hindu Maharaja of Kashmir, Hari Singh
had opted for accession to India by signing the instrument of accession and Indian Government
had accepted it on October 27 1947. In fact, this act of Hindu Raja was in total contrast to the
aspirations of Muslim majority of Kashmir, who desired to join Pakistan. India’s occupation of
Kashmir was against the international norms and a “Standstill Agreement” signed by Hari Singh
with Pakistan on August 15 1947. (Refer page 97 of Conflicts between India & Pakistan-An
Encyclopedia compiled by Peter Lyon). Consequently, India inserted armed forces into Kashmir
and forcefully occupied it. The people of Kashmir retaliated by fomenting an indigenous
resistance movement against the Indian intruders.
As a matter of fact, India occupied two third of the territory of Jammu and Kashmir known
as 1ndian occupied Kashmir, whereas one third area was liberated by local Muslims as Azad
Jammu and Kashmir. Since then, New Delhi has been suppressing the innocent people of Indian
dominated Kashmir through mass extra judicial killings, forced disappearances at the hands of
forces—gang rapes, indiscriminate use of force and torture, firing on demonstrations, custodial
killings, encounters, detentions etc.
Since 1989, over 50,000 (By some reports nearly 100,000), Kashmiri people have been killed
during the ongoing conflict), while, State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has found 2,730
bodies buried into unmarked graves, scattered all over Kashmir—believed to contain the remains
of victims of unlawful killings by Indian security forces.
Several international agencies and UN have reported gross human rights violations in Indian
controlled Kashmir. In a press release, the spokesman of the Office of the High Commissioner
for Human Rights (OHCHR) stated, “The Office of the High Commissioner for Human
Rights is concerned about the recent violent protests in Indian administered Kashmir that have
reportedly led to civilian casualties as well as restrictions to the right to freedom of assembly
and expression.” A 2008 report by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
determined that Indian-administered Kashmir was only ‘partly free.’ A recent report by Amnesty
International stated that up to 20,000 people have been detained under a law called Armed
Forces Special Powers Act -1958 (AFSPA) in Indian-administered Kashmir.
Undoubtedly, the Kashmir dispute as recorded in United Nations document involves the right of
“self-determination” which means the right of all people to freely determine their political status.
UN Security Council clearly laid down that question of accession of the State of Jammu and
Kashmir to India or Pakistan will be decided through democratic method of free and impartial
plebiscite. The UN resolutions are still valid even though India has made many efforts to declare
them bilateral after Simla agreement. It is a unilateral interpretation of the issue by Indian
leadership to keep it in a cold storage. Despite passage of more than 40 years, India has not made
any serious effort to resolve this issue. In this respect, New Delhi’s move of cancellation of
recent Foreign Secretary level talks Islamabad is a point in case. In such a background, Kashmiri
people have time and again been registering their voice to highlight their plight and attract
attention of the world community to acknowledge their right of self-determination.
It is mentionable that Pakistan’s recent serious and sincere effort at the annual session of the
United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has infused a new spirit amongst the Kashmir
people. They announced to organize Kashmir Million March in London, which held on October
26, 2014. Barrister Sultan Mahmood spearheaded the event. It is projected that Kashmir Million
March not only highlighted the grave human tragedy in Indian-occupied Kashmir, but also
called on Britain to play its role in helping the Kashmiris obtain their legitimate right of self-
determination. The Barrister has also demanded of the United Nations to take notice of the
killing of the innocent Kashmiri people as a result of firing on Line of Control. He remarked
that the Kashmir Million March would be befitting reply to the Indian aggression. He also
demanded that the Indian Prime Minister, instead of issuing provocative statements should
withdraw 800,000 Indian forces deployed in the disputed territory. Barrister Sultan and Andrew
Griffiths Member of the British Parliament and Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group
(APPG) on Kashmir in the House of Commons also addressed a press conference in the British
parliament ahead of the march, and pledged that people in electoral constituencies will be made
the part of the Kashmir movement.
Frustrated by the campaign of Kashmiri people, India through diplomatic channels raised the
issue of Kashmir Million March with Britain in a meeting of Indian External Affairs Minister
Sushma Swaraj with Britain’s Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg in London. India was also
trying to project through media that Kashmiris are divided over organizing Kashmir Million
March to be organized from Trafalgar Square to the 10 Downing Street.
However, Kashmir is an internationally recognized dispute and cannot be resolved at
bilateral level. Indian government’s propaganda of describing mass Kashmiri resistance as
terrorist activity is an attempt to nullify the indigenous nature of freedom struggle in Jammu
and Kashmir. Despite India’s harsh and repressive measures, Kashmiri movement for self
determination can not be suppressed.
Pakistan being a legitimate party to the Kashmir dispute, by virtue of partition plan and UN
resolutions, has right to support the cause of the right of self determination of Kashmiri.
Nevertheless, Kashmir Million March organized in UK is true reflection of the aspirations of the
Kashmiri people who are endeavoring to wake up the conscience of world community (Specially
the super powers) to listen to their voice, and become aware of true face of democratic India.
And, the March is show of unity among the Kashmiri people, and a “signature plebiscite” against
the Indian occupation and oppressive activities.
By resorting to desperate diplomatic activities to influence UK authorities with regard to
Kashmir Million March, New Delhi has acknowledged that it uses oppressive methods to gag the
aspiration of the Kashmiri people.
While, the March is also an encouragement for other oppressed communities of India to display
their solidarity to the people of Kashmir and also highlight their light as well.
It is of particular attention that the West propagates the freedom of expression and
demonstration, so the UK Government upheld its traditions by allowing and fully supporting the
Especially, a petition was submitted asking the British government to impress upon India to
resolve the Kashmir dispute. In a statement, Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Gilani declared the Million
March a much-needed step and stated that it is to give the world a message that terrorism has
no direct or indirect link to the Kashmir liberation movement and the people of Kashmir were
struggling for their genuine right.
Nonetheless, Kashmir Million March, held in the streets of London would prove a milestone in
the struggle of Kashmiris’ right of self-determination, and an obstacle to the intransigence of
India which is using delaying tactics in resolving this old issue.
Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants,
Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations
