Pakistan’s repeated attempts to internationalize the Kashmir issue cannot change the historical and legal reality of the region. The world is aware that Jammu and Kashmir formally acceded to the Indian Union on October 26, 1947 — just like hundreds of other princely states across the subcontinent. When Maharaja Hari Singh decided to merge his state with India, he made it clear that any agreements made during Kashmir’s brief period of independence before that date automatically lost their validity, and that the newly formed Indian government would not be bound by them.
In August 1947, the Maharaja had signed a “Standstill Agreement” with Pakistan, which was accepted by Islamabad. He had also sought a similar arrangement with India, but New Delhi declined. Believing that Pakistan would respect his state’s sovereignty, Hari Singh initially remained neutral. However, that belief was short-lived. By September, Pakistan had begun sending armed groups, disguised as tribal invaders, into Kashmir — leading to a large-scale assault in October. Faced with an invasion, the Maharaja requested India’s military assistance and, in return, signed the Instrument of Accession, formally joining the Indian Union. From that moment, Jammu and Kashmir became an inseparable part of India, no different from other states such as Mysore, which had joined the Union earlier on August 14, 1947. In Mysore’s case, its ruler was appointed Rajpramukh; similar administrative arrangements followed the accessions of other princely states. After Jammu and Kashmir’s accession, Prince Karan Singh assumed the role of Sadar-e-Riyasat, signifying complete and unconditional integration.
Later, Article 370 was added to the Indian Constitution as a temporary provision specific to Jammu and Kashmir. This article was eventually repealed on August 5, 2019, in accordance with the intent of the Constitution’s framers, who had always viewed it as transitional. Since then, Pakistan has persistently tried to exploit the issue internationally, resorting to misinformation and sponsoring cross-border terrorism — despite occupying nearly one-third of Jammu and Kashmir since 1948. Under the guise of “Azad Kashmir,” Pakistan continues to suppress the local population, manipulate demographics by settling outsiders, and reward them with undue privileges. Those who dare to raise their voices against Islamabad’s control face violent crackdowns, gunfire, and brutal repression.
Recently, people in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir launched a massive protest against government policies, which turned violent. Many Kashmiris lost their lives in this protest. India has consistently maintained that Pakistan, through its repressive policies, continues to commit widespread human rights violations and kill people in Kashmir. India has repeatedly drawn global attention to this issue through the United Nations and urged Pakistan to lift its illegal occupation of this region so that Kashmiris can breathe freely in democracy and exercise their human rights in accordance with the Indian Constitution. However, Pakistan recently again dared to raise the issue of Jammu and Kashmir in the UN Security Council, prompting a strong response from India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Mr. N. Harish, who stated clearly that Pakistan must vacate this region and end its repression of the people there. On Friday, during a debate in the Security Council on the role of the United Nations in maintaining future world peace, Pakistan’s Special Assistant to the Prime Minister, Syed Tariq Fatemi, raised this issue. India’s Mr. N. Harish responded strongly, saying that the very idea of democracy in Pakistan is a pipe dream. Therefore, Pakistan should stop the oppression of Kashmiris in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and vacate the entire region, as all of Jammu and Kashmir was and will remain an integral part of India. Mr. Harish stated that the people of Indian Jammu and Kashmir exercise their democratic rights and live their lives as they wish. The lives of Kashmiris in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir are facing numerous hardships at the hands of Pakistani rulers. The people here are openly revolting against Pakistan’s military occupation, repression, brutality, and illegal exploitation of resources. However, they are being subjected to a cycle of repression.
