Legally, as per international law, Pakistan simply cannot take such a step unilaterally. Neither can India. This is a TRILATERAL pending UN issue.
Kashmir is legally termed a “disputed territory” by the UN since 1948. Neither PM Modi, nor PM Imran Khan can decide on, or draw the map of Kashmir.
Only the Kashmiris can do that, facilitated by the UN.
Actually, a very large segment of the Kashmiri population on BOTH sides of the Line of Control (LoC ) has already decided what it wants.
And Kashmiris have loudly voiced their decision too. It is no longer a secret.
For the Kashmiris, the naara – the resounding slogan of “Azaadi” does not mean just freedom from Indian rule in the Valley – it means genuine LIBERATION – and INDEPENDENCE of Kashmir from both Indian and Pakistani occupation and claims.
This word AZAADI is seen painted on trees and walls everywhere – on both sides of the LoC – in both Indian Administered Kashmir (IAK) and Pakistani Administered Kashmir (PAK).
The pro-Pak rallies, demos, slogans, flags we are constantly shown on Ptv and elsewhere, ostensibly videos from Srinagar, are most probably old footage re-runs. They certainly cannot be post-5August2019 videos from the strict curfew and lockdown.
But, quite apart from, and irrespective of the above, I most strongly, unconditionally, and unequivocally condemn the illegal, unconstitutional actions of the Modi government on 5 August 2019, and the legislative backing subsequently by the Indian Parliament: the anti-Kashmir and anti-minorities law enactment and Constitutional Amendment; increased militarization; the use of rape and sexual assault as an instrument of war; enforced disappearances; brutal torture; illegal imprisonment; ethnic “cleansing”; and demographic changes in IAK.
The UN should take strong punitive action, with prescribed sanctions against the Modi government, starting with an immediate re-deployment of the UNMOGIP soldiers (the Blue Berets) back on the IAK side of the LoC, and lifting the inhuman curfew.
Lekin kya karein, taadaad aur paisa bolta hai, and a market of 1.2 billion consumers – along with a slew of international Indian-origin influencers – speaks very loudly indeed – and it does so globally. Hence, the deafening international silence on the inhumanity and human rights violations in Kashmir/IAK is understandable – but it is highly condemnable and totally unacceptable. I stand with my mazloom Kashmiri comrades.
