:By Farooq Ganderbali
The Tribal Invasion of Kashmir on 22 October 1947 was a contentious and significant action, because of its serious consequences. It clearly violated the Standstill Agreement concluded between Pakistan and the Ruler of Jammu and Kashmir and resulted in death and destruction of thousands of innocent civilans in Jammu and Kashmir. From Muzaffarabad (now in POK) to Baramulla, the tribal invaders left only scenes of death, destruction and desolation. Out of 14 thousand odd population in Baramulla that time less than two thousand had remained while rest had either been killed or had left Baramulla for safer places.
The tribal invaders even raped nuns, who were performing their duties St. Joseph Hospital and School in Baramulla. They even didn't spare doctores and para-medics. The Pashtun tribesmen had no regard for anyone. The heart-rending stories from the survivors about the atrocities committed by the tribal invaders and the looting and destruction by them still reverbate in Kashmir.
After the Timur massacre of Delhi in 1358, the massacre of Mirpur, a bustling trade centre and historic walled city of Jammu and Kashmir now in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir on 25th of November 1947 was the worst massacre of Indian history. As the offer of accession by Maharaja was accepted by Govt of India on 26th of Oct. 1947 after India and Pakistan gained independence, the ill fated Hindu and Sikh minorities living Muslim majority western areas of Jammu region and in Kashmir valley were waiting their Dooms day. The decision of accession of J&K with India and its completed merger with India as its integral part was celebrated like Diwali in Mirpur with lighting of candles and bursting of crackers.
As tribal invaders were busy in killing, raping and looting, Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir sought help from India, which was only made available after the accession to the Union. The Indian army landed to liberate Jammu and Kashmir from the invaders on October 27 and within a few months time, the tribals were pushed back. The Indian troops fought back gallantly. At the end of the battle over two thousand Pakistani tribals were killed. Kashmiris felt happy that Indian army came to their rescue and welcomed and garlanded them at several places.
The proxies of Pakistan in Kashmir have been trying to cover up these attrocities committed by tribal invaders 72-years back. Separatists leaders were forcing people of Kashmir to observe October 27 as "black day" when Indian army landed in Kashmir to help the civilans, while the reality is that black day for Kashmir is October 22 when tribals invaded Kashmir.
This Tribal Invasion was actively supported and directed by senior Pakistani officials both civil and military. This unprovoked attack caused enormous problems to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. It caused death, destruction and chaos. But after 72-years, government of India finally decided to crack a whip against anti-India forces in Kashmir and sent those Pakistani dallals into jails. By abrogating Article 370, New Delhi has finally succeeded in fully integrating Jammu and Kashmir with rest of the country.
Pakistan agencies always used force and money to create unrest in Kashmir. Innocent killings, economic losses, involving Kashmiri youths into militancy by misinterpretation of religion are some of the gifts given by Pakistan to Kashmiris. Pakistan sponsored terrorism in Kashmir in the name of so-called freedom has destroyed the culture and tradition of Kashmiryat and sufisim. Tribal invasion not only divided the state but laid foundation of sufferings and miseries for the people of both sides.
However, now the time has come when India must take a decisive action to liberate the part of Jammu and Kashmir occupied by Pakistan since 1947. The Indian Parliament in 1994 has passed a resolution declaring whole of Jammu and Kashmir as its integral part. That day is not far when Indian army will land in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) and liberate the people of that part from the clutches of Pakistan. The people of PoJK, like their counterparts in Kashmir, are eagerly waiting for Indian army to arrive. They too would garland and welcome Indian army as Kashmiris did in 1947.
PoK historically belonged to the erstwhile princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. Soon after the partition of India in 1947, Maharaja Hari Singh of Jammu and Kashmir signed the Instrument of Accession, thereby acceding to the Indian Union. Hence, PoK is legitimately an inherent part of India. This territory has been under Pakistan’s unlawful control ever since the Pakistan Army orchestrated the tribal invasion of the territory in October 1947.
Jammu and Kashmir Youth Development Forum (JKYDF) which every year organises a seminar on 22 October 1947 Tribal Invasion on Kashmir, this year also held a programme on the issue in Srinagar. Like previous years hundreds of people from all walks of life including lawyers, university students, doctors, journalists, businessmen, engineers, trade union leaders and religious leaders attend this seminar to counter the propaganda of separatists and their Pakistani handlers.
JKYDF, a major youth organisation of J&K, is working tirelessly from the last one and half decades to expose the nefarious designs of Pakistan in Kashmir. The JKYDF actively propagates its message through news, seminars, articles, pamphlets, rallies etc for peace, welfare of youth and national interest. Our Forum has been enthusiastically working even during the extreme circumstances and crisis during 2008, 2009, 2010, 2016 and present Pakistan sponsored agitation in the Valley.
Jammu and Kashmir Youth Development Forum has aim to empower people epically youth of Kashmir and oppose forces of which sponsor terrorism, extremism and hatred. We aim to provide facts and correct information to people so that they can make correct decisions. We don’t shy away from taking difficult decisions if that helps to advance and promote the cause of people of Jammu and Kashmir.
We at Jammu and Kashmir Youth Development Forum believe that our sovereignty was violated on 22 October 1947 when hordes of tribesmen from North West Frontier of Pakistan attacked and invaded J&K State. They mercilessly killed and looted people. Religion was not an issue to them and their victims included Muslims as well as non-Muslims. In fact, first person who was killed by these so called Jihadis was a Muslim from Muzaffarbad area of PoK.