Kashmir: unfinished agenda of partition

Every year on February 5, Pakistan observes Kashmir Solidarity Day—a solemn occasion to reaffirm support for the Kashmiri people and their right to self-determination. It is not merely a ritual of remembrance but a moral reckoning, a reminder that the valley’s cries for justice have echoed across generations without resolution.

On Solidarity Day, the valley’s scars remind the world that peace demands courage, empathy, and dialogue. The sacrifices of Kashmiris, their resilience in the face of repression, and their unyielding demand for dignity remain etched into the conscience of South Asia.

The roots of the Kashmir dispute lie in the turbulent partition of 1947. When British India was divided into the sovereign states of India and Pakistan, princely states were given the choice to accede to either dominion.

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Jammu and Kashmir, a Muslim-majority state ruled by a Hindu monarch, Maharaja Hari Singh, hesitated until tribal forces from Pakistan entered the valley. Seeking military assistance from India, the Maharaja signed the Instrument of Accession, permitting Indian troops to enter.

Kashmir Solidarity Day is thus not only a reminder of past sacrifices but also a call to envision a future beyond conflict. As Pakistanis stand in solidarity with Kashmiris on February 5, the message is clear: the dispute cannot be wished away, nor can it be resolved through unilateral actions. It requires courage, dialogue, and empathy.

This arrangement was provisional, intended to be ratified by a plebiscite under United Nations auspices. That plebiscite, however, never materialised, leaving a wound that has festered for nearly eight decades.

The first war between India and Pakistan in 1947–48 ended with an UN-brokered ceasefire, dividing Kashmir along the Line of Control (LoC). Pakistan administered Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, while India retained Jammu, the Kashmir Valley, and Ladakh.

UN Security Council resolutions affirmed the right of Kashmiris to self-determination, but successive decades hardened the dispute into a military and political stalemate. Kashmir became a recurring flashpoint: the wars of 1965 and 1971, the Kargil conflict of 1999, and countless skirmishes along the LoC underscored its volatility.

For Kashmiris, life has been marked by militarisation, curfews, and cycles of protest and repression.

For Pakistan, Kashmir remains the “unfinished agenda” of partition. For India, it is considered an inseparable part of its union.

A watershed moment came on August 5, 2019, when India unilaterally abrogated Articles 370 and 35A of its Constitution. These provisions had granted Jammu and Kashmir special status, including autonomy over internal matters and protection of residency and property rights. Their removal stripped the region of autonomy and bifurcated the state into two federally administered territories: Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. For Pakistan, this move amounted to annexation—a violation of UN resolutions and international norms.

For Kashmiris, it was a betrayal of promises made at independence. The valley was placed under lockdown, communications severed, political leaders detained, and a heavy military presence imposed. International human rights organisations voiced concern, but India dismissed criticism, insisting the changes were necessary for integration and development.

Since 2019, the dispute has entered a new phase. The abrogation has deepened mistrust, hardened positions, and made dialogue more elusive. Pakistan has intensified diplomatic efforts to highlight the plight of Kashmiris, while India has sought to normalise its control. The Kashmiri people, caught between competing narratives, continue to demand dignity, rights, and recognition.

The way forward is fraught with challenges but not devoid of possibilities. Kashmir is not merely a territorial dispute; it is about the aspirations of millions whose voices must be heard. Confidence-building measures—easing restrictions, releasing political prisoners, and restoring communication—could help create an environment conducive to dialogue.

Despite deep mistrust, history shows that dialogue has yielded progress, whether through the Simla Agreement of 1972 or the Lahore Declaration of 1999. Reviving backchannel diplomacy, focusing on humanitarian issues, and reducing tensions along the LoC could pave the way for broader discussions.

While often described as a bilateral issue, Kashmir’s implications for regional stability are global. The presence of two nuclear-armed states locked in confrontation makes Kashmir a matter of international concern. The UN, major powers, and regional organisations can encourage dialogue, press for human rights protections, and support initiatives that reduce tensions. Ultimately, perpetual hostility serves neither side.

For Pakistan, Kashmir is central to its identity and foreign policy, but peace and stability are equally vital for development. For India, integration without consent risks perpetual unrest. A just and negotiated settlement, however difficult, is the only sustainable path.

As Faiz Ahmed Faiz wrote in words that still resonate with the Kashmiri struggle:

“Qafas udaas hai yaaron, sabā se kuch to kaho,

Kahin to bahr-e-khudā aaj zikr-e-yār chale“

(“The cage is sorrowful, friends, speak to the breeze,
For God’s sake, let the beloved’s name be spoken somewhere today.”)

These lines capture the yearning for freedom and the unyielding spirit of a people who refuse to let their voices be silenced.

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Kashmir Solidarity Day is thus not only a reminder of past sacrifices but also a call to envision a future beyond conflict. As Pakistanis stand in solidarity with Kashmiris on February 5, the message is clear: the dispute cannot be wished away, nor can it be resolved through unilateral actions. It requires courage, dialogue, and empathy.

History teaches that even the most intractable conflicts can find resolution when the will for peace outweighs the appetite for confrontation. Kashmir remains a flashpoint, but it need not remain a wound forever. The choice lies with leaders in Islamabad and New Delhi, and with the conscience of the international community.

On this Kashmir Solidarity Day, hope endures that the valley—long scarred by conflict—may one day echo not with slogans of defiance but with the voices of peace.