Azad Jammu and Kashmir is located at a distance of 651 km from Pakistan, which is the center of dispute between India and Pakistan. The issue dates back to the decision when Maharaja Hari Singh reached out to India to safeguard his autonomy over Kashmir during the partition of India and Pakistan. Due to UN intervention, the escalating situation was put on hold by the guarantee plebiscite and by a ceasefire line that is under the surveillance of the UN military Observer Group on India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP). During the plebiscite, the National Conference party backed by the BJP was indicted for fraud and corruption. Later, during these circumstances, a new party emerged, namely the Muslim United Front (MUF), which gained a lot of momentum from freedom fighters, Jamat-i-Islamia, and the youth.
The spark of retaliation was formed in MUF youth when, through rigging in the election, NC gained victory. Many were arrested, and some joined major militant organizations advocating and fighting for the independence of Kashmir. Approximately two million Kashmiris have been martyred in the struggle for liberation since 1989. Abrogation of articles 370 and 45(a) proved the permanent siege of Kashmir and the design of complete autonomy that India wanted over Kashmir. Through this move, the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) fulfilled the long-awaited 2019 election manifesto, ultimately, by this step of the Modi government, the people of Kashmir believe that this will change the population size and its character.
Pallet guns, called air guns, are used for various purposes, usually for hunting animals or crowd control, but in Kashmir they are used for attacking the citizens of Kashmir. The government of India called it non-fatal, but its cause and implementation have far more devasting results. A total of 39 children were killed and maimed by pallet guns, according to the UN report. Women are sexually abused, curfew and the basic right to education are completely taken away from the residents. Currently, the world is standing on the verge of chaos with the Palestine-Israel issue. The brutal atrocities carried out by Israel on Palestine are spoken and heard everywhere.
The sound and resistance of Palestinians are admired over the whole globe. The exact problem lies in the fact that the media autonomy is given, and the resistance groups are taking action against Israel in Palestine. Comparatively, the fight for the freedom struggle of Kashmiris is not gaining momentum that much in the Middle East. The given issue is quite evident—that it is a game of narratives. Pakistan has enjoyed long-term good relations with “Gulf countries,” but unfortunately, when India stripped Kashmir’s special status, Saudi Arabia showed its concern about the unilateral decision of India, but the UAE clearly stated that it’s an internal matter of India. The narrative that has been built is of Us vs. Them. The way India is attempting to include its policies and laws to build Indian identity or its narrative on a large scale in Kashmir. The rise of militancy and the amount of recruitment of youngsters in militant groups such as Hizbul Mujahideen that is mentored byJamat-i-Islamiaincreased to counter that action.
The Indian Army pursued the strategy of Winning hearts and Minds (WHAM) to wash out the realities of atrocities conducted by India. Different projects and programs were launched under this operation.A budget of $40 million was set aside in 1998 that was later increased to $5500 million by 2020. Meanwhile, Pakistan has used every remedy to enhance security and improve the internal condition of AJK. From the inception of the conflict, Pakistan supported the independence movement and considered the UN’s sole body to act as a moderator between both countries, but India’s accusations and allegations of cross-border terrorism formed a hindrance in the policy’s regulation. The most appalling movement was the response of the international community over the abrogation of Kashmir’s special status when no country protested from the Middle Eastern region except Turkey and China that gave sympathetic statements. The unresponsive behavior of many states of the Middle Eastern region is not new, it dates back to the time of Yasser Arafat. Mr. Geelani, a remarkable member of Jamaat-i-Isami, added:
“The way Kashmiris had been enthusiastic about Palestine struggle the same way the Palestine Liberation Organization had not been passionate and eager enough about Kashmiris”
Arafat holds a symbolic position in the liberation struggle of Palestine. A word from him would be quite effective and influential and motivate others to focus so that it would gain enough momentum for the international stance on Kashmir. In an interview with Dawn, Mr. Geelani mentioned
“The Palestinian freedom struggle has been akin to the struggle against Indian occupation.”
One more emerging narrative is the growing trade between India and Saudi Arabia, which has increased over the past decade. The fact that India is the fourth-largest trading partner with Mukesh Ambani announcing a 20 percent stake in Reliance Industries Limited makes it more clear that the narrative of India is stronger due to its economic ties with the Middle Eastern countries. Similarly, the annual bilateral trade stands at $83.64 between India and the UAE. While doing a comparison, the trade between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia according to the 2024 report is $20 billion. With UAE, it is $6.89 billion. The recent G20 meeting acted as a catalyst to further enhance the standpoint of India on Kashmir.
Pakistan as a country has to amplify its international diplomacy and must be more focused on using effective media, cultural, educational, and political diplomacy. Finally, but importantly, invest in the economic sector. Kashmir has been fighting for 70 years for its independence, self-determination, and liberation. The fight still continues for the Kashmiri people. Their perseverance and resilience are admired by many Pakistanis. With the world becoming more interconnected day by day, the voices of Kashmiris are echoing louder on the international front, demanding just resolution and rightful peace. Support and cooperation of Middle Eastern countries are still expected for further improvement of the narrative game on a just yet equal basis so that maximum holdup would be on the right side of the game.
The Author, Rohma Qaiser Satti is a student at the National Defence University, Islamabad, focusing on Middle Eastern studies to deepen understanding of regional conflicts and their origins.
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