British PM Urged to Honor Kashmir Pledge Amid Ongoing Indian Occupation

As the crisis in IIOJK deepens, British PM Keir Starmer is urged to fulfill his 2020 pledge and take real action against India’s illegal occupation and human rights abuses.

A delegation led by Fahim Kayani, head of Tehreek-e-Kashmir UK, urged British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to honor his 2020 pledge on Kashmir and take decisive action against India’s illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir. The petition, submitted at 10 Downing Street, calls for the British government to push for the implementation of the United Nations-mandated plebiscite for Kashmiris, ensuring their right to self-determination.

The delegation, which included prominent British MPs such as Andrew Pakes, Gareth Snell, Nadia Whittome, and David Williams, also featured local leaders like Cllr Mohammad Amjid Wazir and Cllr Zanib Raja. The petition criticized India’s continued occupation of Jammu and Kashmir, which has persisted since 1947, maintained by over one million soldiers, paramilitary forces, and police personnel. The petition condemned the Indian government’s human rights violations, which it termed genocidal, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s regime, and called for international pressure to end these abuses.

In his 2020 letter to the Muslim Council of Britain, Starmer had emphasized the importance of addressing the Kashmir issue, but the delegation urged him to take “practical steps” to ensure that Britain plays a more active role in advocating for Kashmir’s right to self-determination. They stressed the importance of diplomatic engagement with both Pakistan and Kashmir’s pro-freedom leadership to reach a peaceful resolution of the conflict.

The ongoing violence and repression in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), which includes arbitrary detentions, curfews, and restrictions on basic freedoms, have sparked global outrage. Human rights organizations have condemned India’s policies, which aim to change the region’s demographic structure by suppressing the Muslim-majority population of IIOJK. Despite international criticism, India continues to dismiss calls for dialogue, and its efforts to suppress resistance movements have intensified since the revocation of Article 370 in 2019.

The petition calls on Starmer to push for a diplomatic solution that respects Kashmiris’ rights and enforces UN resolutions. By engaging with India, Pakistan, and Kashmiri leaders, Starmer could play a key role in facilitating dialogue and ensuring that the Kashmir issue is addressed fairly and justly.

Critics argue that the British government’s response to the Kashmir crisis has been insufficient, and the ongoing human rights abuses in the region demand stronger, more immediate action. The petition represents growing calls for the UK to use its influence on the world stage to stand up for justice and human rights in Kashmir, holding India accountable for its occupation and abuses.