Post Webinar Report 

Four Years of Unlawful Annexation: Impacts on Socio-Economic and  Political Status of IOJK

Date & Time 

Aug 5, 2023 (5:00 – 7:00 pm) 

Venue 

KIIR Office 

Moderator 

• Altaf Hussain Wani, Chairman Kashmir Institute of International  Relations 

Speakers 

• Robert Fantina, Canadian Journalist, Writer & Human Rights Activist 
• Dr. Khurram Iqbal, Hon Associate Prof. at Dept of Security Studies &  Criminology, Macquarie Uni, Australia 
• Amb. Ahmad Chaudhary, Former Foreign Secretary of Pakistan
• Marry Scully, Human Rights Activist 
• Cecilia Jastrzembska, Senior Policy Advisor in UK government
• Dr. Waqas Ali Kausar, Professor NUML 
• Enes Alkan, University of Istanbul 
• Prof. Arjun A Sethi, Prof. of Law at Georgetown University, US
• Syed Muhammad Ali, Nuclear & Strategic Analyst 
• Amb. Abbas Ramadan, Amb. Of International Observatory for  Documentation of Human Rights Violations with UN Agencies

Highlights 

The Kashmir Institute of International Relations organized a webinar that convened experts and luminaries from around the academic community to deliberate on critical issues about the  Kashmir conflict in general and the webinar topic titled “Four Years of Unlawful  Annexation: Impacts on Socio-Economic and Political Status of Indian Occupied  Kashmir,” in particular. The webinar, held on August 5, 2023, at the Kashmir Institute of  International Relations, Islamabad, welcomed distinguished speakers and participants who shared their expertise and insights on the subject matter. The webinar discussed the discriminatory policies that the government of India has been implementing in occupied  Kashmir since the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A in August 2019.

The speakers highlighted the economic, political, social, cultural, and religious impacts of unlawful annexation. The Indian government has imposed several economic restrictions on Kashmir,  including a blockade on goods and services, which has led to a sharp decline in economic activity. This has disproportionately affected the poor and marginalized sections of society.  The Indian government has suspended the Kashmiri constitution and assembly and imposed a  military siege on the region. This has effectively neutered the political process in Kashmir and made it impossible for the Kashmiri people to exercise their democratic rights. The Indian government has cracked down on Kashmiri culture and religion. 

Altaf Hussain Wani, Chairman of the Kashmir Institute of International Relations, opened the webinar by highlighting the impact of the revocation of Articles 370 and 35A on the people of Kashmir.

 Mr.Wani highlighted that the abrogation of these articles has had a devastating impact on the lives of Kashmiris, both in terms of their social, political, and religious rights. He pointed out that the Indian government has imposed several restrictions on Kashmiris, including a curfew, a  communications blackout, and a travel ban. These restrictions have made it difficult for Kashmiris to go about their daily lives and have also prevented them from exercising their political and religious rights. Mr. Wani also pointed out the Indian government cracked down on Kashmiri dissent along with the arrest and detention of thousands of Kashmiris. He emphasized that this crackdown has created a climate of fear and intimidation in Kashmir and has made it difficult for Kashmiris to speak out against the Indian government. Mr. Wani called on Robert Fantina to talk on the subject first. 

Robert Fatina, a human rights activist, spoke about the human rights situation in Kashmir.  He said that Kashmir is one of the most brutal examples of state-sponsored repression in the world today.

He cited several examples of how the Indian government has violated the  Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in Kashmir. He highlighted that Article 13 of the UDHR guarantees the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state. However, the Indian government has suspended the passports of several Kashmiri journalists and activists for criticizing the occupation of Kashmir. Furthermore, Article 19 of the UDHR guarantees the right to hold an opinion without interference. However, the Indian government has cracked down on freedom of expression in Kashmir, arresting journalists, harassing activists, and censoring the media.

The government of India ramped up internet blackouts and detained journalists who dared to voice dissent during mass protests against the revocation of Article 370. Similarly, he shed light upon Article 20 of the UDHR, which guarantees the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association. However, the Indian government has frequently restricted freedom of assembly in Kashmir, often rejecting requests for permits for public gatherings submitted by Kashmiri leaders. For example, the authorities quickly arrested APHC leaders before planned demonstrations and violent clashes between protests and security forces are not uncommon. Talking about Article 15 of the UDHR which guarantees the right to a nationality and prohibits arbitrary deprivation of nationality, he highlighted that the Indian government has violated both provisions by abrogating Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, which granted Kashmir a  certain degree of autonomy.

By encouraging Kashmiris to take pictures of themselves and their families waving the Indian flag, the Indian government is forcing them to endorse the Indian occupation of Kashmir. Mr. Robert also discussed Article 23 of the UDHR which guarantees the right to work, free choice of employment, just and favorable conditions of work, and protection against unemployment. However, the Indian government has imposed severe restrictions on employment opportunities in Kashmir, replacing Kashmiris with Indian nationals in major administrative and government jobs. As a result, unemployment in Kashmir is estimated to be  23.1%. 

Robert Fantina concluded by saying that the Indian government has violated all the 30 articles of the UDHR in Kashmir. He called on the international community to take action to stop the human rights abuses in Kashmir. In addition to the articles mentioned by Robert Fantina, there are many other examples of human rights violations in Kashmir. For example, the Indian government has been accused of torture, extrajudicial killings, and enforced disappearances in  Kashmir. Kashmiris have also been denied access to education, healthcare, and other essential services. He called on the world to"publicize these atrocities and advocate for these innocent victims."  He also recommended that the international community impose sanctions on India and demand that it ends its human rights abuses in Kashmir.

 Dr. Khurram Iqbal, Associate Prof. at Dept. of Security Studies & Criminology,  Macquarie Uni, Australia, started his talk by posing the question if Hindutva in India is reversible or not. 

He argued that the BJP has been successful in instituting Hindutva, or Hindu nationalism, throughout India. He pointed to the increasing influence of Hindutva in the Indian government, judiciary, and education system as evidence of this.  He added that RSS philosophy is fascist, and it was permitted to rule the secular country for two consecutive terms, resulting in the marginalization of not just Kashmiris but also other minorities. The agenda will be completed through the Uniform Civil Court, and the BJP wishes to remove all components opposing the revocation. He also noted that the BJP has been able to pass legislation that discriminates against Muslims and other minority groups.

Furthermore, Dr. Khurram emphasized that the saffronization of India is not reversible because it has become institutionalized. He pointed to the fact that Hindutva is now taught in schools and universities and that Hindutva organizations have a significant presence in Indian society. He also noted that the BJP is likely to continue to win elections, which will allow it to further consolidate its power. Dr. Khurram argued that the BJP is likely to introduce a uniform civil code in the next election to further its Hindutva agenda. A uniform civil code would replace the personal laws of different religious communities, such as Muslim law and Hindu law.

This would mean that all Indians would be subject to the same laws, regardless of their religion. Dr. Khurram argued that this would be a  major step towards creating a Hindu Rashtra. Dr. Khurram argued that the insurgency in  Kashmir has not subsided, it has only changed forms. He pointed to the fact that there have been several low-intensity attacks in Kashmir in recent years. He also noted that the militants in Kashmir are now targeting civilian populations in India. Dr. Khurram argued that this is a  sign that the insurgency is becoming more desperate. Dr. Khurram argued that Pakistan has tried to internationalize the Kashmir issue but with limited success.

He pointed to the fact that the United Nations has been unable to resolve the Kashmir issue and that most countries have been reluctant to criticize India on the issue. Dr. Khurram argued that this is because India is a  major economic and strategic partner for many countries. Dr. Khurram argued that the internal political turmoil in Pakistan has hampered its ability to project the Kashmir issue on the international stage. He pointed to the fact that Pakistan has been ruled by several different governments in recent years, each with its priorities. He also noted that Pakistan has been criticized for its human rights record, which has made it difficult to win international support for the Kashmir cause.

Dr. Khurram argued that Pakistan needs to increase the stakes of international players in its economy to secure its core objectives in foreign policy.He pointed to the fact that Pakistan is a relatively poor country and that it is dependent on foreign aid. He also noted that Pakistan's economy is not very diversified, which makes it vulnerable to shocks. 

Dr. Khurram argued that Pakistan needs to attract more foreign investment and trade to become more self-sufficient. Dr. Khurram argued that it is unclear whether Kashmir is still defined as a core objective in  Pakistan's foreign policy. He pointed to the fact that Pakistan's 2022 non-security policy downgraded Kashmir from a core to a vital interest. He also noted that Pakistan has been focusing on other issues, such as its economy and relations with China, in recent years. Dr.  Khurram argued that this could be a sign that Pakistan is losing interest in Kashmir.

 Lastly Dr, Khurram put forward a question for all to ponder “Kashmir still is defined as a  core objective in Pakistan's foreign policy because the non-security policy that was issued by  Pakistan in 2022 degraded Kashmir from a core to a vital interest so that's something which has not been debated and discussed in Pakistan and this is the right time that if such degradation of career has happened what was the rationale behind that and how it can impact the future of  Kashmir”. He gave some suggestions that,

o Pakistan should increase the stakes of international players in its economy to  secure its core objectives in foreign policy. 

o Pakistan should involve multinational companies from UAE, Saudi Arabia, and  other Gulf countries in Pakistan's industrial revitalization program. 

o Pakistan should continue to internationalize the Kashmir issue, despite the  unconducive international environment. 

 Ambassador Aizaz Chaudhry, Former Foreign Secretary of Pakistan, started his talk  by highlighting the illegality of India's annexation of Kashmir

He said that India's annexation of Kashmir violates the UN Security Council resolutions and the India-Pakistan Shimla  Agreement. He argued that India is obligated to implement these resolutions but has not done so. Then he went on to discuss the other aspects of the  Kashmir conflict, such as India's changing the demographics of Kashmir, its human rights abuses in Kashmir, and Pakistan's support for the Kashmiri people. The ambassador pointed out that India's annexation of Kashmir violates the UN Security Council resolutions and the India-Pakistan Shimla Agreement. These resolutions and agreements call for a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir conflict, and they specifically prohibit any unilateral changes to the status of Kashmir.

However, India has ignored these resolutions and agreements, and it has unilaterally annexed Kashmir. Furthermore, he emphasized that India is changing the demographics of Kashmir. India is issuing billions of new domiciles to non-Kashmiris to change the Muslim majority status of the region. This is a  clear attempt to dilute the Kashmiri people's political power and to make it more difficult for them to achieve self-determination. The ambassador also said that India is destroying the cultural heritage of Muslims in Kashmir.

This is an attempt to erase the Kashmiri people's identity and to make them feel unwelcome in their land. Adding to it, India is committing human rights abuses in Kashmir. The ambassador said that  India is subjecting Kashmiris to all kinds of brutalities and atrocities, including extra-judicial killings, custodial killings, and forced disappearances.

He also said that India is incarcerating journalists, lawyers, and human rights defenders. These human rights abuses are a serious violation of international law, and they are a stain on India's reputation. The ambassador highlighted Pakistan's support for the rights of Kashmiris. He said that  Pakistan will continue to support the Kashmiri people until they achieve their right to self-determination. Pakistan has provided moral, political, and diplomatic support to the Kashmiri people for many years, and it will continue to do so until the Kashmiri people achieve their just demands. 

She argued that this policy is like colonialism in that it disempowers and disembowels the culture. It is displacing Kashmiri farmers and shopkeepers, and it is exploiting Kashmiri youth. Marry highlighted that the creation of 42 industrial quarters in Kashmir is a major threat to Kashmiri culture. These industrial quarters will be sweatshop zones that will exploit Kashmiri youth. They will also produce mass-produced goods that will replace traditional Kashmiri crafts and products.

This will have a devastating impact on Kashmiri culture and will erase much of its unique identity. She argued that Dubai is a major partner in  India's neoliberal project in Kashmir and that the UAE is profiting from the exploitation of  Kashmiris. She specifically mentioned that Dubai is creating a 500-shop mall in Kashmir. This mall will be like a super Walmart, and it will undermine the small shop economy in Kashmir. It will also dispossess thousands of small shopkeepers.

The mall is intended to appeal to wealthy Indian residents and to the new military entourage that comes with the Dubai investment. The neoliberal policy is also strengthening occupation. It is creating a new class of wealthy Indian settlers who are profiting from the exploitation of Kashmiris. Marry compared India's neoliberal policy in Kashmir to the Israeli model of settler colonialism. In both cases, the occupying power is using economic exploitation to weaken the indigenous population and strengthen its control. However, she also argued that India's neoliberal policy is different from the Israeli model in one important way. In Israel, the settlers are mostly Jewish, while in  Kashmir, the settlers are mostly Indian. This means that the neoliberal policy in Kashmir is also a form of cultural genocide.

Adding to it, she also mentioned that the UAE is creating two major container terminals in Kashmir. These container terminals will be used to transport products made in sweatshop zones around the world. This means that Kashmiri products will no longer be made for Kashmiri people but for consumers in other countries. This will further erode Kashmiri culture and make it even more difficult for Kashmiris to maintain their way of life. She also discussed the news blackout in Kashmir.

She argued that this blackout is making it difficult to raise awareness of the Kashmiri struggle. She also argued that the news blackout is criminalizing Kashmiri journalists and activists. This makes it even more difficult for  Kashmiris to speak out about their oppression and demand their rights. Marry concluded her talk by calling for solidarity from the international community. She argued that the Kashmiri people need support from the outside world in their struggle for self-determination. 

Enes Alkans, from the University of Istanbul, started his speech by thanking the audience for  inviting him and by giving a brief overview of the topic of his speech, which is the role of geography in the conflict over Kashmir

He then went on to discuss the three main points of his speech: The importance of geography in geopolitics, The strategic importance of water resources in Kashmir, and the importance of Kashmir for Pakistan. Alkan argued that geography plays a key role in geopolitics and that the location of  Kashmir has made it a strategic point of contention for centuries. Kashmir is located between three nuclear powers (India, Pakistan, and China), and it is also a major source of water for both India and Pakistan.

This makes Kashmir a valuable prize for both countries, and it is one of the main reasons why the conflict over Kashmir has persisted for so long. Alkan also discussed the strategic importance of water resources in  Kashmir. The Indus River, which originates in Kashmir, is a major source of water for both  India and Pakistan. This makes Kashmir a vitally important region for both countries, and it is one of the main reasons why they have fought over it for so long. 

Talking about the importance of Kashmir for Pakistan, Alkan argued that Kashmir is of strategic importance to Pakistan for three reasons. First, the Indus River, which originates in  Kashmir, is a major source of water for Pakistan. Second, the control of Kashmir would allow  Pakistan to strengthen its natural borders and maintain its strategic defense posture. Third, the predominantly Muslim population of Kashmir is a religious point for Pakistan.

He also highlighted the potential consequences of the Kashmir conflict. Alkan argued that the  Kashmir conflict has the potential to have devastating consequences for both India and Pakistan. If the conflict continues, it could lead to a war between the two countries, which could have nuclear implications. It could also lead to a humanitarian crisis in Kashmir, as the people of the region are already suffering from poverty, violence, and displacement. Alkan concluded his speech by calling for a peaceful resolution to the Kashmir conflict. He argued that the conflict is not in the interests of either India or Pakistan and that it is only a  matter of time before it leads to even greater tragedy. He urged both countries to come to the table and negotiate a solution that would be acceptable to both sides. 

Prof. Arjun A. Sethi, professor of Law at Georgetown University, gave a powerful and informative talk on the human rights crisis in  Kashmir. He said that Kashmir has been a  laboratory for abuses committed by the Indian government.