by Mussawer Safi 13 September 2023
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to South Africa for the 15th BRICS summit raised some concerns. Certain groups, including the Muslim Lawyer Association and the South Africa Kashmiri Action Group, have conveyed their grievances and complained to the National Prosecuting Authority and South African Police Service. They request an investigation into allegations of war crimes committed by Modi’s forces in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). These groups believe that the human rights violations under Modi’s leadership are reprehensible and should be addressed.
The United Nations Secretary-General has been demanded to note the disturbing and ongoing human rights violations in India’s illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) emphasizing a concern that transcends time. The Indian Army, under British control, committed these breaches, resulting in the terrible deaths of innumerable people, including children and women. The sad pattern of extra-judicial executions has further exacerbated the misery of the people of Kashmir. Additional disturbing details have emerged, alleging allegations of sexual assault by Indian security agents. Kashmiris are peaceful civilians who have repeatedly had their valid requests for UN Security Council resolution implementation ignored.
Instead of protecting their right to self-determination, the government has responded with deadly force. Concerns have been voiced that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is working with terrorist organizations like DAESH to exterminate the Muslim population of Occupied Kashmir. This would serve India’s broader purpose. Human rights violations have persisted unabated under Prime Minister Modi’s watchful eye. The international community must take a firm stand against these atrocities, demanding justice for the victims and a future for the people of Kashmir free from violence and defined by respect for their basic human rights.
Kashmiri’s demands for self-determination, rooted in United Nations resolutions, refer to a critical issue in the ongoing human rights discourse. Most people in the region hold Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi accountable for these abuses. The refusal of India to grant human rights organizations access to Kashmir has been criticized as a violation of international agreements. Concerns have also been expressed about the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), an anti-Muslim organization, and its stated intention to declare India a “Hindu Rashtra.” This anti-Muslim bias is evident from past events, such as the massacre of Muslims in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, the destruction of the Babri Masjid, and the alleged repetition of such actions in Kashmir.
Some claim that Prime Minister Modi and other government officials, such as Army Chief Bipin Rawat, should be tried for war crimes, similar to historical figures such as Augusto Pinochet of Chile, Slobodan Milosevic of the Republic of Yugoslavia, and Milan Matric and Milan Babic, who served as Presidents of the Republic of Serbian Krajin. These comparisons emphasize the graveness of the situation and the dire need for international attention and accountability to address human rights violations in Kashmir.
Alleged violations of human rights and acts of violence against defenseless Kashmiris make the situation in Indian-occupied Kashmir extremely troubling. There have been disturbing reports of alleged crimes in the area, including killings, mass blindings, and attacks. These claims require a thorough investigation, and those responsible for any misconduct must be called to account. A resolution passed in 1948 by the UNSC has been the starting point for the Kashmiri people’s quest for independence. The people of Kashmir were granted the right to vote on their destiny in a fair and democratic referendum thanks to this resolution. The acts of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indian Army Chief Bipin Rawat warrant inquiries from the international community, maybe even the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Further, if transparency and justice are to be achieved in Kashmir, a robust commission must be established to probe ongoing human rights crimes in the region. The commission’s job is to provide a dispassionate assessment of the situation, compile evidence of any infractions, and recommend reforms to prevent such incidents. The international community can help broker a peaceful end to the lengthy war in Kashmir while supporting the values of justice and human rights. In the interest of regional stability and following international principles of justice and the rule of law, it is essential to acknowledge that the Kashmir issue can and must be resolved peacefully by respecting the right of the Kashmiri people to self-determination.
The reports of human rights abuses in Indian-controlled Kashmir are disturbing and must be examined carefully. The importance of the unrealized right to self-determination for the people of Kashmir was emphasized in a resolution passed by the UN Security Council in 1948.
The International Criminal Court and the international community should ensure accountability and justice for the victims of these alleged atrocities while pursuing a peaceful resolution to the Kashmir conflict through dialogue and diplomacy.