“India Celebrates National Women’s Day But Rapes Go Unreported – Unsafe for Women and a Weapon of War in IOJK”

February 13, 2023 TAUQEER RIAZ

India celebrates National Women’s Day on February 13 every year, yet unfortunately, women are being raped and countless rape cases go unreported, according to a report issued today by Kashmir Media Service. Describing India as the worst place in the world for women and the leading nation of crimes against women, the report noted that crimes against women in India, especially in New Delhi, are far too prevalent and have been increasing.

As per India’s National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), on average 77 rape cases were reported on a daily basis in 2020 and additionally 3,741 cases of attempted rape and 85,392 cases of assault to outrage modesty were recorded.

ISLAMABAD, LATEST, WORLD

The 1947 Partition of the Subcontinent left an unfinished agenda in the NICOBAR and LAKSHADWEEP Archipelagos, creating a lasting legacy of division.

February 13, 2023 TAUQEER RIAZ

India was given Andaman Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands in the Indian Ocean by the British government in 1950, contrary to the rules and provisions of the Indian Independence Act of 1947. To prevent any potential political tension due to the unjust division of the Nicobar Islands, India declared them a Union Territory in 1956, under the control of the Lieutenant Governor. Notably, whereas many Muslim-majority regions were given to Pakistan, Lakshadweep (which has a Muslim majority) was instead handed to India. Being the smallest Union Territory in India, it has a total surface area of 32 sq. km. It is also surrounded by a 4,200 sq. km lagoon and has 20,000 sq. km territorial waters, in addition to its exclusive economic zone area being 400,000 sq. km.

Population of Lakshadweep Archipelago is 65,998 out of which Muslims are 96.58% and Hindus are 2.77%. It was not only a Muslim-majority area, but was also a Muslim ruled princely state and her legal & moral right was snatched by India. Out of insecurity, in Dec 2018 PM Modi changed the names of following Islands to Hindu tones by abolishing Christian legacy. a)-Ross Island was renamed as Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep. b)- Neil Island as Shaheed Dweep. c)- Havelock Island as Swaraj Dweep. Military base in Nicobar is boosting Indian military posture in Indian Ocean. Considering the principles & provisions of Indian Independence Act 1947 and the rights of Pakistan, it is obligatory on UN to handover the one of the two archipelagos to Pakistan as the Act is not repealed by UK and is still in effect. Nicobar Archipelago being geographically closer to Pakistan should be handed over to Pakistan.

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“India: Robbing Kashmir’s Wealth From Occupied Valley, Leaving People in Despair!”

February 13, 2023 TAUQEER RIAZ

For decades, successive Indian governments have treated Kashmir as a colony, exploiting its natural resources and unleashing violence on its population with full impunity through heavy militarization. Kashmiri people have faced immense marginalization, land theft, destruction of livelihoods, exploitation of resources, and aggression, alongside arbitrary arrests, disappearances, and disgusting genocide of young Kashmiris by the Indian forces. This reflects the racist regime’s horrific outlook on Kashmir and its people. Recent findings by the Geological Survey of India point to the fact that the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir has 5.9 million tonnes of Lithium reserves, which is a key component for electric vehicle batteries. The Mines Secretary of India, Vivek Bharadwaj, confirmed this discovery.

“For the first time, lithium reserves have been discovered, and that too in Jammu and Kashmir.” All these manipulations and constitutional amendments are in contravention of UN Security Council resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir, international human rights, humanitarian law, the 4th Geneva Conventions, and India’s international obligations. Indian hegemonic designs are the biggest threat to regional peace. It is high time that the international community and UN Human rights bodies play their part to hold India accountable and put a halt to the current machinations of India, which pose a serious existential threat to Kashmiris. Hurriyat leaders and organizations have called upon the United Nations to stop India from robbing the resources of the international-acknowledged disputed Jammu and Kashmir by India.