By Sardar Zeeshan Tahir
October 24, 1947 is a great day in the history of Jammu and Kashmir when the armed struggle of Kashmiri Muslims against the oppression of the Dogra Raj brought freedom to a large part of the state. On that day, the “Government of the State of Jammu and Kashmir” was formally announced. The foundation of this movement was laid by Ghazi-e-Millat Sardar Muhammad Ibrahim Khan and the brave Mujahideen of Poonch.
During the Dogra and Sikh Raj periods, mountains of religious oppression, social injustice and political deprivation were broken on Kashmiri Muslims. The Poonch Rebellion took the form of a formal movement against this oppression. The people of Rawalakot, Bagh, Mirpur, Muzaffarabad, Kotli and Bhimber took up arms against the army of Maharaja Hari Singh. Thousands of veterans who were discharged from the Second World War dedicated their war skills for national freedom.
Three big names of leadership became part of history in this war of freedom. Ghazi-e-Millat Sardar Muhammad Ibrahim Khan organized the youth of Poonch and laid the foundation of the first government of Azad Kashmir. Capt Hussain Khan Shaheed Col Khan of Mang and Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan launched the first military resistance on the front. Chaudhry Ghulam Abbas kept the people active on the political front and provided intellectual leadership to the movement.
Whereas today, our brothers in Azad Kashmir who are protesting and holding sit-ins for their rights are calling the heroes of the Azad region and our elders as traitors, which is highly condemnable.
Participation in this jihad was not limited to any one region or tribe. It was a collective sacrifice. At the local level, the Saduzai, Syeds, Gujjar Rajput Jatt, Mughals and all other tribes of Poonch liberated their ancestral areas. Thousands of young men of the Saduzai/Sadhan tribe lined up against the Dogra army and liberated a large part of Poonch Bagh and Sudhanuti.
Lashkar-e-Ghazi also arrived from the tribal areas of Pakistan for assistance. Volunteers from the Wazir, Mehsud and Afridi tribes of Waziristan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa fought against the Maharaja’s army and Indian intervention along with Kashmiri brothers. Similarly, millions of Muslims in Jammu and other areas who wanted to join Pakistan sacrificed their lives during migration.
Thus, the alliance of various local and tribal forces named the independent part of the state “Azad Jammu and Kashmir”.
October 24, 1947 teaches us the lesson that the protection of freedom is conditional on unity and sacrifice. Even today, this state is the trust of those martyrs who sacrificed their today for the tomorrow of the nation.
My main purpose and heartache in writing this article today is that the current precarious situation of Azad Kashmir and this series of bloodshed of our own people at their own hands should stop immediately. The relationship between the people of Kashmir and Pakistan is not just geographical but Islamic, ideological and blood relationship, therefore mutual conflict is in no way in the interest of the country and the nation. The Kashmiri people are not traitors to their beloved homeland, but they are eternally loving patriots whose history is full of immense sacrifices and martyrs. Those politicians and the general public who, ignorant of history, point fingers at them or spread hatred and call them traitors without any crime, should first read the story of the eternal sacrifices of the Kashmiris. If this gap and unrest continues, then not only Kashmir but also the peace and stability of the entire Pakistan will be in danger. The need of the hour is that the state should play the role of a compassionate mother instead of any harsh behavior. The protesters are our own elders and sons, therefore their legitimate demands should be heard, a peaceful solution to this crisis should be found with them through love, gentleness and serious negotiations so that this entire region can once again become a cradle of peace and security.
Let us turn back today and see
The path that leads to love & peace
