Enumerate the measures adopted by Pakistan to spotlight on the plight of Kashmiri people in the Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir after 5th August 2019.

Introduction

Quaid-i-Azam is reported to have called Kashmir the "jugular vein" of Pakistan, a phrase that every Pakistani government has repeated. On 5 August 2019, India revoked Article 370 and Article 35A of its constitution, ended the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, split it into two union territories and imposed an unprecedented lockdown and communications blackout. For Pakistan, this was a violation of UN Security Council resolutions and of the bilateral Simla Agreement. Pakistan responded with a sustained diplomatic, legal, media and symbolic campaign to keep the plight of the Kashmiri people before the world.

Overview

India's actions were accompanied by the deployment of additional troops, the detention of thousands of political leaders, including former chief ministers, and the suspension of internet services for months; 4G mobile internet was restored only in February 2021. The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act 2019 took effect on 31 October 2019, and new domicile rules (2020) allowed non-Kashmiris to settle and acquire jobs, which Kashmiris feared would change the region's demography. Pakistan called these steps illegal under UNSC Resolutions 47 (1948), 91 (1951) and 122 (1957), which state that the final disposition of the territory must be decided by a free and impartial plebiscite.

Diplomatic and international measures

1. UN Security Council consultations.

At Pakistan's request, supported by China, the UN Security Council held closed consultations on Kashmir on 16 August 2019, the first time in about half a century that it discussed the issue specifically, and it met again in January and August 2020. (Reference: UN Security Council, programme of work and press statements, 16 August 2019; Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, press releases, 2019-2020.)

2. The Prime Minister's UNGA address.

Prime Minister Imran Khan devoted a large part of his address to the 74th UN General Assembly on 27 September 2019 to Kashmir, warning of a possible bloodbath when the curfew was lifted and of the risks of conflict between two nuclear states. (Reference: UN General Assembly, Official Records, 74th session, address of the Prime Minister of Pakistan, 27 September 2019.)

3. The UN Human Rights Council.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi addressed the Human Rights Council in Geneva in September 2019 and presented a joint statement on Kashmir. (Reference: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, statement at the 42nd session of the Human Rights Council, 10 September 2019.)

4. Letters to the UN and OHCHR reports.

Pakistan wrote repeatedly to the UN Secretary-General and the Security Council about curfews, killings and demographic changes, and drew attention to the reports of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on Kashmir of 2018 and 2019. (Reference: OHCHR, Report on the Situation of Human Rights in Kashmir, June 2018, and update, July 2019; letters of Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the UN, 2019-2021.)

5. The OIC Contact Group on Kashmir.

Pakistan convened meetings of the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir, which issued statements rejecting India's actions, and the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers adopted resolutions on Kashmir in Niamey (2020) and later sessions. (Reference: OIC, statements of the Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir, September 2019; OIC Council of Foreign Ministers, Niamey resolutions, November 2020.)

6. Bilateral outreach.

The Prime Minister and Foreign Minister spoke to world leaders, including those of the US, China, Turkey, Malaysia, Iran and Saudi Arabia, and briefed foreign envoys. President Trump offered to mediate, and leaders of Turkey and Malaysia raised Kashmir at the UN. (Reference: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, press releases, August-September 2019; UN General Assembly records, addresses of the leaders of Turkey and Malaysia, September 2019.)

7. Downgrading ties with India.

On 7 August 2019 the National Security Committee decided to downgrade diplomatic relations, expel the Indian High Commissioner, suspend bilateral trade and review bilateral arrangements, signalling that Pakistan would not accept the changes as normal. (Reference: Prime Minister's Office, National Security Committee decisions, 7 August 2019.)

8. Parliamentary diplomacy.

Pakistani parliamentarians engaged foreign parliaments, and the issue was discussed in the European Parliament and the UK Parliament, where members called for restoration of rights in Kashmir. (Reference: European Parliament, plenary debate on the situation in Kashmir, 17 September 2019; UK House of Commons, debates on the human rights situation in Kashmir, 2019-2021.)

Domestic, legal, media and symbolic measures

1. Joint session resolution.

A joint session of Parliament on 6-7 August 2019 unanimously condemned India's actions and reaffirmed Pakistan's support for the Kashmiri people's right to self-determination. (Reference: Parliament of Pakistan, resolution of the joint sitting, 7 August 2019.)

2. Kashmir Solidarity Hour and Youm-e-Istehsal.

The whole nation stood still for a Kashmir Hour on 30 August 2019, and 5 August 2020 was observed as Youm-e-Istehsal (Day of Exploitation), in addition to the annual Kashmir Solidarity Day on 5 February. (Reference: Prime Minister's Office announcements, August 2019 and August 2020.)

3. The new political map.

On 4 August 2020 Pakistan released a new political map showing the whole of Jammu and Kashmir as disputed territory whose status is to be decided under UN resolutions. (Reference: Government of Pakistan, Political Map of Pakistan, 4 August 2020; Survey of Pakistan.)

4. The human rights dossier.

In September 2021 Pakistan released a detailed dossier documenting alleged war crimes and human rights violations by Indian forces in Kashmir, and shared it with the UN and world capitals. (Reference: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, dossier on human rights violations in IIOJK, 12 September 2021.)

5. Media and digital campaigns.

State and private media, the ISPR and the Ministry of Information ran campaigns, songs and documentaries, while social media campaigns kept hashtags on Kashmir trending worldwide. (Reference: Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Kashmir campaign; ISPR releases, August 2019.)

6. Diaspora mobilisation.

Pakistani and Kashmiri diaspora communities held protests in London, Washington, Brussels and other capitals, especially on 15 August and 5 August, drawing international media attention. (Reference: Reports by BBC News and Dawn on diaspora protests, August 2019 and August 2020.)

7. Support for refugees and Azad Kashmir.

The government expanded support for Kashmiri refugees and for residents along the Line of Control affected by Indian shelling, and Azad Kashmir's leadership addressed international forums. (Reference: Government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, statements; ISPR reports on ceasefire violations, 2019-2020.)

8. Renaming and commemoration.

Islamabad's Kashmir Highway was renamed Srinagar Highway in August 2020, and Kashmiri martyrs such as Burhan Wani and Syed Ali Geelani, who was awarded the Nishan-e-Pakistan in 2020, were commemorated nationally. (Reference: Capital Development Authority notification, August 2020; Senate of Pakistan resolution on Syed Ali Geelani, 2020; Cabinet Division, civil awards 2020.)

Assessment

Pakistan's measures succeeded in internationalising the issue: the Security Council discussed Kashmir after decades, global media reported the lockdown widely, and human rights bodies and parliaments raised concerns. However, India's growing economic weight limited the response of many states, including some Muslim countries, and the OIC did not hold a special summit. Pakistan's long-term success depends on consistent diplomacy, a strong economy, credible human rights advocacy and keeping the focus on the Kashmiri people's own voice.

Conclusion

UN Security Council Resolution 47 of 1948 declared that the question of accession "should be decided through the democratic method of a free and impartial plebiscite." The events of 5 August 2019 sought to bury this promise, but Pakistan's diplomatic, legal and public campaign has kept it alive. Through the UN, the OIC, bilateral diplomacy, a new political map, documentation of abuses and national solidarity, Pakistan has made sure that the plight of the Kashmiri people cannot be ignored. Its cause will ultimately be won by persistence, credibility and a strong, stable Pakistan.