SUMMARY of the Article “Two Struggles” by Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, Published on November 5, 2023
The article highlights the parallel struggles of Palestine and Kashmir, two longstanding disputes originating in 1947, both rooted in the right to self-determination and resistance to foreign occupation. The genesis of these conflicts can be traced back to British geopolitics. In the case of Palestine, the Balfour Declaration in 1917 expressed Britain’s intent to create a Jewish homeland in Palestine while preserving the rights of non-Jewish communities. However, Israel has consistently disregarded these commitments, including the UN resolution for a two-state solution. In Kashmir, the dispute arose when the Maharaja hesitated to join Pakistan despite the state’s Muslim-majority status. India deployed forces, and the matter was taken to the UN, which called for a plebiscite. However, India has refused to comply with UN resolutions, and the conflict remains unresolved. The commonalities between these disputes are striking, including territorial and religious dimensions, defiance of international community will, and strong US support for the occupying powers. While there are differences, such as the one-land, two-community situation in Palestine compared to Kashmir’s Muslim-majority population, both regions face demographic changes imposed by the occupiers. Pakistan has consistently supported Palestinian rights and remains committed to the two-state solution. There is hope for reciprocal Arab support for Kashmir, given the shared struggle for self-determination. The article suggests that the oppressed cannot remain subjugated forever and encourages both Palestinians and Kashmiris to pursue strategic paths towards freedom.
Easy/Short SUMMARY:
The article discusses the enduring struggles in Palestine and Kashmir, both stemming from 1947 and marked by the fight for self-determination and resistance against foreign occupation. These disputes share similarities, including territorial and religious aspects, non-compliance with UN resolutions, and significant US backing for the occupying powers. While there are differences, such as the demographics of the regions, Pakistan continues to support the Palestinian cause and seeks Arab support for Kashmir. The article emphasizes that oppressed peoples cannot remain subjugated indefinitely and encourages well-planned strategies for freedom in both cases.
SOLUTIONS of The Problem:
For Palestine:
- International Diplomacy: Continue to engage in diplomatic efforts to build international support for the two-state solution and Palestinian self-determination.
- Strengthening Palestinian Unity: Promote unity among Palestinian factions to present a stronger front and negotiate effectively with Israel.
- Non-Violent Resistance: Promote non-violent resistance methods to raise global awareness about the Palestinian cause.
- Humanitarian Assistance: Focus on providing essential humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people living in difficult conditions.
- International Pressure: Encourage nations worldwide to exert diplomatic and economic pressure on Israel to adhere to international resolutions.
For Kashmir:
- UN Mediation: Renew efforts to involve the United Nations in mediating the Kashmir conflict and ensuring a plebiscite for the people of Kashmir.
- Bilateral Dialogues: Encourage India and Pakistan to engage in constructive bilateral dialogues to find a peaceful resolution to the Kashmir issue.
- Human Rights Advocacy: Increase international awareness of human rights abuses in Kashmir, putting pressure on India to respect the rights and freedoms of the Kashmiri people.
- Regional Cooperation: Promote regional cooperation among South Asian countries to foster a conducive environment for conflict resolution.
- Grassroots Movements: Support and empower grassroots movements in Kashmir to raise their voices for self-determination and a peaceful future.
IMPORTANT Facts and Figures Given in the article:
- The Balfour Declaration in 1917 expressed Britain’s intent to create a Jewish homeland in Palestine while preserving the rights of non-Jewish communities.
- In 1947, the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 181, which called for the partition of Palestine into the independent states of Israel and Palestine with Jerusalem under international supervision.
- India deployed its forces in Kashmir on October 27, 1947, following the maharaja’s request.
- Despite UN resolutions, both Israel and India have consistently defied international efforts to resolve the disputes in Palestine and Kashmir.
MCQs from the Article:
- What is the common factor underlying the disputes in Palestine and Kashmir?
A. Religious conflict
B. Right to self-determination
C. Territorial disputes
D. Geopolitical strategies -
What is the significance of the Balfour Declaration in the context of the Palestine dispute?
A. It called for the creation of a Palestinian state.
B. It supported the rights of non-Jewish communities in Palestine.
C. It established the state of Israel in 1917.
D. It proposed international supervision of Jerusalem. -
What event led to India’s deployment of forces in Kashmir in 1947?
A. A request from the maharaja
B. A UN-supervised plebiscite
C. The uprising of tribals
D. The Kashmiri people’s desire to join Pakistan -
What has been the response of Israel and India to UN resolutions regarding their respective disputes?
A. They have actively worked to implement UN resolutions.
B. They have consistently defied UN resolutions.
C. They have cooperated with third-party mediation.
D. They have accepted bilateral dialogues for conflict resolution.
VOCABULARY:
- Self-Determination (noun) (خود مختاری): The process by which a nation or group of people determines its political status and the form of government it will have.
- Occupation (noun) (قبضہ): The action, state, or period of occupying or being occupied by military force.
- Territorial (adjective) (علاقائی): Relating to
the ownership of an area of land or sea.
4. Demographics (noun) (عوامی تعداد کا مطالعہ): Statistical data relating to the population and particular groups within it.
5. Subjugated (verb) (غلبہ): Bring under domination or control, especially by conquest.
6. Bilateral (adjective) (دو طرفہ): Involving two parties, especially countries.
7. Plebiscite (noun) (لوک وکس): The direct vote of all the members of an electorate on an important public question, especially one in Switzerland or a similar country.
8. Sanctions (noun) (معاقبتی کاروائی): A threatened penalty for disobeying a law or rule.
9. Diplomacy (noun) (دوسرے ملکوں کے ساتھ مذاق): The profession, activity, or skill of managing international relations, typically by a country’s representatives abroad.
10. Atrocities (noun) (زیادہ کی خلاف ورزی): Extremely wicked or cruel acts, typically involving physical violence or injury.
11. Oppressors (noun) (ظلم کرنے والے): People or groups that subject others to unjust treatment or control.
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Two struggles | dawn.com by Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry
THE year 1947 witnessed the emergence of two disputes — Palestine and Kashmir. Both remain unresolved. At the heart of both disputes is the unfulfilled right of two peoples to self-determination. Both are protracted cases of resistance to foreign occupation. And in the genesis of both conflicts, the underlying common factor is the British geopolitics of the time.
The Palestine dispute arose when, following the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire, Britain, which had been given the mandate to govern Palestine, announced in 1917 its intent to create a Jewish homeland in Palestine. This announcement — the Balfour Declaration — stated that the new state would not prejudice the civil and religious rights of the non-Jewish communities living in Palestine. In 1947, Britain took the matter to the UN, where the General Assembly adopted Resolution 181, which decided to partition Palestine into the independent states of Israel and Palestine with Jerusalem placed under an international regime. Israel has consistently refused to honour the commitments given under the Balfour Declaration as well as the decision of the UN resolution, and has never allowed the Palestinians to form an independent and viable state of their own.
The dispute over Jammu and Kashmir arose because the people of this state were denied an opportunity to express their desire to join Pakistan or India on the eve of partition. Under the terms of the Partition Plan of 1947, Jammu and Kashmir, being a Muslim-majority state and with borders contiguous with Pakistan, should have joined the latter. When the Hindu maharaja of Kashmir dallied, the tribals from Pakistan’s frontier region rose up and liberated a segment of the state. At the maharaja’s request, India landed its forces in the state on Oct 27, 1947. Lord Mountbatten, then governor general of independent India, persuaded the Indian government to refer the case to the UN, which decided that the matter would be resolved via a UN-supervised plebiscite. But the dispute remains unresolved because India has consistently refused to abide by the UN resolutions, and is not ready to accept third-party mediation or to resolve the conflict bilaterally.
The similarities between the two cases are striking because both disputes have territorial as well as religious dimensions. In both cases, the occupying powers have consistently defied the will of the international community expressed through UN resolutions. The two occupying powers also seem to learn how to sustain their illegal occupation of these territories from each other. Both enjoy firm US support.
The similarities between Palestine and Kashmir are striking.
Naturally, there are also some differences. Palestine is one land which is claimed by two communities, the Palestinians and Jews. Around the creation of Israel in 1948, Jews from Europe were pulled into Palestine, and Palestinians who had lived in these lands for millennia were displaced from their homes. As for Kashmir, it was and remains a Muslim-majority Kashmiri population. However, since Aug 5, 2019, the Indian government has embarked on a project of changing the occupied territory’s demographics by pulling in non-Kashmiris from different parts of India and offering them domiciles and voting rights.
Pakistanis have always stood for the rights of Palestinians to have an independent and viable state of their own. To this date, Pakistan has not recognised Israel because of its illegal occupation of Palestine.
There have been voices in Pakistan, which believe that by not recognising Israel, we have become a target of Jewish lobbies in the US. Another argument is that the Indo-Israel nexus is working against the interests of Pakistan and Kashmiris. However, no government in Pakistan has accepted the call for recognition of Israel, and remains firmly committed to the two-state solution and the right of Palestinians to self-determination. There is, however, an expectation in Pakistan that our strong support for the Palestinian cause should be reciprocated by Arab support to the Kashmiris, because both are cases of the struggle for the right of self-determination and both are suffering brutalities and atrocities of occupying powers.
As to how the future would unfold, it is self-evident that victims of oppression cannot be subjugated forever. In both cases, wars have been fought and several peace attempts made. Both peoples have shown remarkable resolve, courage, patience and perseverance to pursue their respective cause. However, it is important for both Palestinians and Kashmiris to pursue well-considered strategies that lead to freedom and victory over oppressors. Both can take heart from countless examples in human history, where sacrifices and dreams of freedom of some valiant leaders became a reality for future generations.
The writer is a former foreign secretary and founder chairman of Sanober Institute Islamabad.
Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2023