UN resolutions clearly give the Kashmiri people the right to decide their own future, India, which calls itself the world’s largest democracy, when it comes to Kashmir, its approach is dominated by dictatorship, coercion and fear rather than democratic values.
The Kashmiri people have been engaged in a struggle for freedom and the right to self-determination for the past seventy-five years, but India tries to suppress their voice at every level. There are several reasons for this pressure and concern, including the possible autonomy of Kashmir, and mediation by a third world power such as the UN, OIC, China or the US, which are considered the biggest threats to India. The question is, why is New Delhi so afraid of these two issues?
Whenever “Kashmir” and “third-party mediation” are mentioned in the government chambers of Delhi, an unusual unease is felt. International diplomatic circles and analysts seem to agree that India’s claim of Kashmir as its “integral part” is a weak claim on historical, legal and moral grounds.
The UN resolutions clearly give the Kashmiri people the right to decide their own future, and India itself initially accepted these resolutions, but later reneged on its promises. Till date, the Kashmiris have not been given the opportunity to hold a plebiscite because India knows that the outcome could be a political, moral and ideological defeat for it.
Kashmir’s independence could be not just a geographical dispute but also a dangerous precedent, which would set an example for other separatist regions of India. The Sikh community in Punjab still seems mentally prepared for the establishment of Khalistan. Thousands of people have died in the Khalistan movement since 1984 and this movement is still alive in the hearts of Sikh nationalists. If Kashmir gets independence or the aspirations of Kashmiris are recognized at the international level, it could be an encouraging message for the Sikhs. Similarly, several states in northeastern India such as Assam, Nagaland, Manipur and Tripura consider themselves ethnically, culturally and religiously different from central India. Dozens of separatist groups are active in these regions who consider India a colonial power. They can present any political developments in Kashmir as an argument for their right to self-determination.
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