By Dr. Fai
Kashmiri American community observed the 77th anniversary of unimplemented UN Commission for India and Pakistan (UNCIP) resolution of August 13, 1948, by renting the digital led trucks in New York city. The digital trucks were sponsored by Washington-based ‘World Kashmir Awareness Forum’. The resolution of August 13, 1948, states that ‘the Government of India and the Government of Pakistan reaffirm their wish that the future status of the state of Jammu and Kashmir shall be determined in accordance with the will of the people.’
The digital trucks were carrying the message: “Struggle for Free Kashmir Will Never Impede: To UN Resolutions India Will Have to Concede”; “In Kashmir India Enforcing Ethnic Cleansing: UN Guilty of Inertia and Caught Sleeping”; “UN Resolutions Succinctly State: Kashmir is Not an Indian Protectorate”; “Kashmiris Reject Indian Occupation: UN Resolution only Solution”; “Kashmir Conflict Should be Heeded: Mediation of President Trump is Highly Needed”; “Settler Colonialism and Demographic Alterations: India Shreds UN Resolutions”; “No Election, No Selection: UN Resolution the Only Solution.”
Dr. Ghulam N. Mir, President, World Kashmir Awareness Forum and Executive Producer, Saffron Kingdom, a Kashmiri film said that the UNCIP was established by the UN Security Council in 1948 to investigate and mediate the dispute over Jammu and Kashmir between India and Pakistan. UNCIP was tasked with facilitating a ceasefire, demilitarization, and holding a plebiscite under the auspices of the United Nations to determine the future political status of Kashmir as mandated by the UNSC Resolution 47 of April 21, 1948.
Dr. Mir added that the dream of Kashmiris, and the world around remains unfulfilled to this day. Peace remains elusive for the region and despite its massive military force unarmed Kashmiris in and around the globe remain defiant. The UN may be weak, but Kashmiris remain resilient and hopeful of their future.
Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai, Chairman, World Kashmir Awareness Forum said that Kashmir is not an “internal matter” for India, it is an international dispute recognized by the United Nations Security Council since 1948, which promised Kashmiris the right to choose their future through a free vote. International law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention, clearly forbids an occupying power from moving the people into occupied land. India’s demographic engineering in Kashmir under military control is a direct violation of that law.
Dr. Fai added that while Kashmir suffers, the world’s democracies issue only soft words of concern. The UN Security Council has limited itself to closed door discussions, with no resolutions, no sanctions, and no real action. This silence helps India speed up its colonial project. Without real diplomatic and economic pressure, Kashmir’s identity could disappear within a generation.
Dr. Imtiaz Khan, Kashmiri American scholar said that United Nations Security Council resolutions adopted 77 years ago remain unimplemented. This is the outcome of conceited attitude of successive Indian governments and lackadaisical attitude of the United Nations. The creation of UN in 1945 apparently marked a major turning point in global diplomacy, aiming to prevent future conflicts, foster peace, and promote cooperation among nations. But as far as Kashmir is concerned, the United Nations has failed to deliver.
Dr. Khan added that India has not only exhibited lack of compliance, but she has integrated Kashmir as part of the country and since August 2019 she is actively pursuing the line of action that can be construed as settler colonialism, demographic alteration and ethnic cleansing. Under these circumstances the credibility of UN is at stake. The message it sends that with economic prowess, huge military force and weapons that can cause mass destruction, the nations can shred any resolution and thump at the nose of international community.
Raja Mukhtar, Spokesman of JKLF North America and the main organizer of the event said that after Article 370 was abrogated, Domicile law was enacted which has increased a sense of insecurity and has made indigenous Kashmiris strangers within their own land.
Raja Mukhtar maintained that the people of Kashmir have given sacrifices beyond imagination. But one thing, Indian army could not do: it could not kill the sentiments and aspirations of the people of Kashmir for freedom. Those sentiments of the people of Kashmir are growing day by day. Mohammad Yasin Malik is the prime example who has not abandon the cause, despite inhuman conditions he endures within the walls of Tihar Jail.
Sardar Taj Khan, senior vice chairman, Kashmir Mission USA and co-organizer of the event said let us send a clear message to the people of Kashmir that Kashmiri diaspora and friends of Kashmir stand committed to carry on the struggle till the final settlement of the Kashmir dispute.
Sardar Taj added that the Kashmiris across the globe have rejected the reprehensible attempts of Indian government to change the demographic character of our nation and resolved to counter India’s bigoted settler colonialism through peaceful resistance.
Sardar Sawar Khan, former Advisor to the Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir alerted that whole Kashmir has been converted into a concentration camp. Any voice of dissent is met by long-term imprisonment or even death. Thus, it is exigent for the Kashmir diaspora to disseminate these atrocious stories to world and question their criminal silence over this important issue which has potential to jeopardize the existence of South Asia – one fifth of total human race.
Advocate Sardar Imtiaz Khan Garalvi said that the Global Kashmiri diaspora leadership has unanimously resolved to pursue the struggle to protect the unique and historical identity of the State of Jammu and Kashmir against all challenges. He appealed to all peoples of conscience and the international community to raise their voices against the brutal oppression the people of Jammu and Kashmiri are suffering under the occupying forces of the Government of India.
Sardar Zarif Khan, Advisor to the President of Azad Kashmir said that Indian draconian laws grant legal immunity to any type of crime against humanity perpetrated by Indian army in Kashmir. Torture is an international crime. Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 7 of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) clearly state, “No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”. Yet Indian soldiers who are involved in torture in Kashmir are not prosecuted because they have been given immunity under the Indian law.
Sardar Zubair Khan, Director, Community Affairs, ‘Voices of Justice in Kashmir’ said that India’s war crimes in Kashmir are shameful. The presence of 900,000 Indian soldiers has made Kashmir the largest army concentration anywhere in the world. The atrocities committed by Indian army has intensified manifold after August 5, 2019, when article 35 A and 370 were abrogated by Indian Government.
Raja Liaqat Kiyani, President, Kashmir House Maryland said that the Kashmir dispute could only be resolved through the free exercise by the Kashmiri people of their UN-pledged right of self-determination, and not by military means as India is attempting to do. He added that the lives and hopes of Kashmiris should not be snuffed out by a “might-makes-right” approach to international relations, moral values and universal principles.
Sardar Shoaib Irshad, Joint Secretary, ‘Kashmir American Welfare Association’ (KAWA) said that the Domicile law means that everything the people of Kashmir own for centuries can be taken away by the Government of India at its will. Long-term design is to restrict local Muslim population in ghettos, snatch their livelihood so that they are at the mercy of the foreigners.
Br. Aalam of Bangladeshi businessman called on Government of India to accede to international law and to cooperate in holding a referendum. India itself will benefit by the vast savings in military and paramilitary forces in Kashmir. He added that India’s design is ultimately change the demography of Kashmir.
Dr. Fai is also the Secretary General, World Kashmir Awareness Forum.
He can be reached at: WhatsApp: 1-202-607-6435. Or. gnfai2003@yahoo.comwww.Kashmirawareness.org
New York. August 13, 2025