The dreadful Year for Kashmir
One year has passed since the life of 12.5 million Kashmiris changed tremendously. On August 5, 2019, Article 370 was revoked by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) which stripped off the special autonomy of the Kashmiris. The Kashmiris now had no right to acquire any property in the occupied Kashmir and no doubt this was an attempt to turn the Muslim-majority Kashmir to the most owned land by Hindus. The Indian Occupied Kashmir consists of 87% of Muslims. India has been trying to change the demography of Kashmir. India started offering domicile to Hindus from different parts of India.
This was followed by the strict curfew when 900,000 troops were deployed in Jammu and Kashmir. This has been termed as one of the longest curfews. The lives of the Kashmiris have turned miserable and they are looking at the world for help but the world is watching.
The beautiful land of Kashmir has been turned into a jail. Women and children are being raped. Kashmiris are being kidnapped, detained, and tortured. Kashmiris are being killed. Tear gas and pellets have been used. Cluster bombs have been used. Thousands of Kashmiris have been arrested. Kashmiris have been sent to detention camps. And the world is watching.
Properties have been damaged. Businesses have been destroyed. Thousands of people were left jobless. Children are unable to go to school. Universities are closed. Students are unable to give high-level exams. The crops have been burnt. No one is allowed to step out of their houses. Travelers have been restricted. There has been economic distress. And the world is watching.
Access to healthcare is hindered. There has been a shortage of life-saving medicines. Patients are unable to reach the hospital on time due to a lack of transport. Due to the communication shutdown, regular healthcare services are not carried out. Many people are deprived of basic healthcare facilities. Those in serious conditions are facing issues to reach the hospital in time and facing a shortage of medicines as well. The psychological stress and trauma among people have increased. There has been an increase in numbers of fetal distress and stillbirths since pregnant women couldn’t get a regular checkup. There has also been a rise of harassment against healthcare providers which prevented many individuals from working. And the world watching.
Internet facilities were cut off. Mobile signals were suspended. No one could reach out to anyone. Kashmir has been cut off from the world. There is no flow of information. There are soldiers everywhere. Streets are blocked with barbed wire. There is a check post after every few miles. Whoever steps out is questioned. And the world is watching
The outbreak of COVID-19 added up to the miseries of the Kashmiris. There have been extremely less intensive care capacity. There has been a shortage of ventilators and personal protective equipment. Not enough kits are available to carry out the tests. There is a lack of high-speed internet due to which doctors cannot reach out to consultants and medical guidelines. The Indian Occupied Kashmir is stuck in the middle of a global pandemic and has very little resources to supply. And the world is watching.
The Kashmiris have suffered brutality from India for 72 years. They have been oppressed and humiliated by Indians. Kashmiris have been imprisoned and their life is being monitored and controlled. India has immensely violated numerous Human rights in Kashmir and it has turned Kashmir into a battlefield. India has suppressed the Kashmiris’ right of self-determination. And the world is still watching.
For how long will the Kashmiris suffer?
For how long will the world watch the Kashmiris asking for nothing but the right to live peacefully?
The silence of the International Humanitarian Organizations is adding up to the brutalities in Kashmir. Kashmiris are suffering and humanity is asleep. The world must rise for Kashmiris and put an end to this brutal siege. The world must rise to stop the genocide in Kashmir.