NOVANEWS
When it comes down to it the occupation of Kashmir is perceived by different individuals in different ways. Some take one side and for many their beliefs are formed fully from the opinions of others. I have to admit my very first knowledge of Kashmir came from word of mouth and things that I heard . From this I formed my very first thoughts on the conflict “I totally detest the Indian occupation” but little did I know what was happening on the other side.
Kashmir is occupied by three countries, India, Pakistan and China. On the Chinese front I know very little and I’ll keep you posted with more as I learn it. When I refer to the valley, I refer to both Azad and Jammu Kashmir, but recently I found that “the valley” was a term used only for Jammu. I never intended for it to mean that. My valley is the valley stretching from the western borders of Azad Kashmir, to the eastern borders of Jammu, all the way to the Northern borders where Chinese occupied Kashmir meets China.
India’s crimes against the citizens living in Jammu Kashmir are often picked up by the media’s reports and we are aware somewhat of what is going on. We hear about mass graves, crackdowns, military offences, disappearances and half widows and we’ve grown used to these ideas. We know what’s happening yet we refuse to act against it. We won’t act, but in Jammu we hear voices chanting against the occupation and the military forces which are regularly raiding villages. We see photographs of young men attacking Indian defence forces with rocks and we hear stories of sacrifice depart from every household in the valley.
They say the crimes against humanity in the Pakistani occupied Kashmir are much fewer and far between. When Kashmiri’s go to Mirpur, like my brother just told me, we come back to the UK and boast about how we now have a MacDonald’s in Mirpur and a shopping centre. How could a military occupied country possible have a MacDonald’s? My answer would be corporate imperialism but we can save that for another day.
In Azad Kashmir, “Azad” being the Pahari and Urdu term for “free”, I wouldn’t describe anybody as being free. It may not be a regular occurrence for Pakistani forces to raid villages and hold Kashmiri children at a ransom and it also may not be a regular occurrence for Kashmiri women to be raped at the hands of occupying forces but this doesn’t mean that these things don’t happen in Azad Kashmir.
The chants against the Indian occupation which leave the valleys of Jammu and reach the ears of human beings all over the world aren’t heard in Azad Kashmir. In Azad Kashmir the sound of resistance is silenced by fear.
The Pakistani occupation of Azad Kashmir is evident in the political situation of Azad Kashmir and it is evident through the disappearances of young and old Kashmiri people who have gone missing never to be found again because they spoke out against the occupation of their homeland. Many would argue that the situation in Indian occupied Kashmir on a human level is much worse than in Azad Kashmir and I would never hesitate to agree but Pakistani occupied Kashmir has resulted in generations of youth both inside and outside Kashmir unaware of their heritage. You ask why, because their parents and ancestors were forcibly silenced by occupying forces. Words of truth in “Free” Kashmir result in disappearances and death.
The districts of Mirpur, Kotli and others in Azad Kashmir have for two long been subject to silence or assault. The occupation may not be through evident use of force but any Kashmiri person from Pakistani occupied Kashmir is aware of the implications of their actions if they are to speak against the occupiers.
As Kashmiri’s abroad we do not face torture or brutal silencing for speaking against an illegal occupation in either Jammu or Azad Kashmir yet we remain silent and for me that would amount to the greatest betrayal. I will no longer be silent. As a Kashmiri from Azad Kashmir, I denounce the Pakistani occupation of my homeland.
