‘Kashmir and Lawfare: Prospects and Strategy’

“Indian colonialism in Kashmir is the denial of international law” – Khalid Rahman

Chairman IPS Khalid Rahman participated as a chief guest in a conference titled ‘Kashmir and Law Fare: Prospects and Strategy’, which was organized by the Legal Forum for Oppressed Voices of Kashmir (LFOVK) on March 11, 2021.

Rahman was accompanied in the speaker’s panel by Justice Ali Nawaz Chowhan, Dr Sadia Zahoor, Sheikh Tajammul Islam (director, Kashmir Media Service), Barrister Taimur Malik and Advocate Nasir Qadri, director, LFOVK.

Expressing deep concerns over the ongoing situation in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IoK), Rahman said that colonialism by India in Kashmir is the denial of International Law.

Referring to Kashmir as an internationally recognized dispute, Rahman rebutted calling Kashmir as a bilateral or territorial dispute between India and Pakistan. He rather saw it as a matter involving over 2 crore people across the borders.

Calling armed resistance in Indian Occupied Kashmir legitimate and legal under international law, Rahman said that where there is forced occupation, there is resistance, and that the right of liberation is a fundamental right as per international law.

The speakers were unanimous that Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) is a bone of contention between India and Pakistan and before taking any kind of decision over it, be it in terms of law fare or otherwise, the ground realities in IoJK must be evaluated.