IOK: rape as a weapon of war

In this modern world, the use of rape as a weapon by India continues hardly causing any raised eyebrows

The occupied Kashmir has been under a crippling lockdown for well past 100 days. If it is not enough that the population of the disputed Himalayan territory has been confined to their homes in an information blockade with essentials having long run out, this open-air prison for Kashmiris has become a playground for hundreds of thousands of Indian troops who have been pumped into the narrow valleys of the scenic region seemingly to keep the peace.

The Human Rights Watch has now pointed to something quite shocking and alarming — that the Indian troops are using rape as a method of retaliation against the indigenous population. Recent reports by the UN and other aid agencies also suggest that Indian forces in Kashmir often target women to demoralise the local population who have been demanding an end to the Indian occupation and restoration of the special status of the disputed region. The reports point out that “the frequent rape of Kashmiri women by Indian state security forces routinely goes unpunished.” Also, US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo noted that “sexual violence and rape are rampant in times of both war and peace.” This only suggests that such actions by its troops have the tacit support of New Delhi.

The use of rape as a weapon of war is not new. It has existed for as long as conflicts have existed themselves. Even in Kashmir, the Central Reserve Police Force and the Border Security have a long history of employing it with little to no retribution. What is alarming is that in this modern world, the use of rape as a weapon, by a nation claiming to be as civilised as India, continues hardly causing any raised eyebrows in the global comity of nations. What purpose does marking 16 days of activism serve if we cannot at least condemn the impunity of committing heinous crimes in the longest siege on a territory in modern history?

Published in The Express Tribune, November 30^th, 2019.

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