The Self-Determination Day
By the Editor

KEEPING their gallant pledge intact, Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control observed January-5 as the Self-Determination Day to focus the world attention towards the UN Security Council’s resolution adopted on this day in 1949 that acknowledged the Kashmiris’ right to self-determination and provided for deciding the issue of accession of Jammu and Kashmir to Pakistan or India through a free, fair and impartial plebiscite.

Public rallies were held both in IHK and Azad Kashmir and memorandums were presented to the UN Observers Group’s Headquarters protesting against the non-implementation of the UNSC resolution by India.

As is indexed in the history, India is still guilty of violating the UN Security Council’s resolutions calling for affording opportunity to the Kashmiris to decide their destiny with their own free will.

Despite being signatory to these resolutions, India has not implemented the global verdict on one frivolous pretext or the other.

Instead, it has rather ridiculed the world body by claiming that Kashmir is its 'integral part' even in the presence of its resolutions that clearly stipulate plebiscite as the only way to resolve the question whether the Kashmiris want to accede to Pakistan or to India.

Pragmatically, these resolutions are as good today as these were in 1949. To say that these resolutions have lost their importance with the passage of time is the greatest travesty of truth.

What has changed is the Indian mindset. It had committed in the world body to let the Kashmiris decide their own future, but has since taken frequent somersaults, yet without any upshot.

The fact that Kashmir continues to be on the UN Security Council’s agenda is a proof that neither the UNSC’s resolutions on Kashmir have lost their significance nor Kashmir is India’s 'integral part.'

The joint statements issued after Vajpayee-Musharraf and Manmohan-Musharraf meetings in Islamabad and New York that reaffirm the two countries’ determination to seek resolution of the Kashmir issue also belie the India's ferocious claim.

It’s, therefore, in India’s own best interest to respect the Kashmiris’ inalienable right to self-determination and thus contribute towards peace, security and stability of the South Asian region.

We, however, take this opportunity to caution the Government of Pakistan not to be over-flexible on the issue of Kashmir lest its fundamental position should be compromised.●