KARACHI:
India occupied Kashmir in connivance with Maharaja Hari Singh against the will of the people of the valley. Even though India and Pakistan have many a time locked horns over the issue, it has been pending at the UN for ages. Sheikh Abdullah, the founder of Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference, did not object to or resist the accession of Kashmir to India. Rather, he decided to participate in the election to become the first elected Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. However, he later wrote in his book that he had made a huge mistake.
The decision has now become a curse for the people of IIOJK, who are currently being strangled by the strong grip of the Indian military. Had Sheikh Abdullah resisted the annexation of Kashmir in the first place, the fate of the people of the valley might have been different today. Muzaffar Razmi has captured the situation beautifully: Yeh jabr bhi dekha hai tarekh ki nazron ney, Lamhon ney khata ki thi sadion ney saza pai.
It is also sad to see our leader repeat the same kind of momentary weakness. Their lack of strength and unified stance against India has emboldened it to end the special status of IIOJK and continue their oppressive tactics in the valley. The misery of the people there has exacerbated and our leaders are busy in an ugly fight of power grabbing and mudslinging.
Raja Shafaatullah
Islamabad
Published in The Express Tribune, April 22nd, 2021.
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