Human rights activists worldwide are facing a new legal question in Kashmir: If Kashmiris raise the national flag of another country, say Pakistan, during peaceful protests, can India’s occupation administration try them under Indian national laws on sedition?

Recently we saw few incidents in Indian Occupied Kashmir where hoisting of National flag of Pakistan caused trouble to the administration & Government of India. Firstly Indian police registered an FIR against Jammu and Kashmir leader Asiya Andrabi for unfurling Pakistan flag on its national day in Srinagar and now Masrat Alam has been arrested in the case registered in police, connection with the provocative actions during the rally where Alam hoisted the National Flag of Pakistan.

If we look into the recent history of Indian Occupied Kashmir, hoisting of Pakistani flags is not new, whenever Kashmiris get a chance and whenever they have to show their love towards Pakistan and express their hatred against India, Kashmir turns Green. Hoisting of Pakistani flag has not just been seen during the political rallies in Kashmir, but Pakistani flags get hoisted on 14^th of August (Independence Day of Pakistan), 23^rd March (National Day of Pakistan) and during every Match Pakistan play or wins against India. Those wearing green shirts during the Cricket world cup were not any political workers, they are common Kashmiri youth. Those Kashmiri students expelled from their university and threatened with sedition charges because they cheered for the Pakistani cricket team during a televised match against India, are the new generation representing the sentiments of Kashmiri youth.

India knows the sentiments of Kashmir, if one says India is unaware that would be a lie, India knows how Kashmiri thinks, what they want, that’s the reason India has always used delaying tactics when it comes to giving the Right of self-determination to the people of Kashmir.

Many of my Indian Friends in reaction to hoisting of Pakistani Flag in Disputed territory of Indian Occupied Kashmir commented that “We wonder how Pakistan and Pakistanis would react if a Baluchi unfurled the Indian flag”. I don’t understand why my very intelligent Indian friends become so ignorant when it comes to the issue of Kashmir. The Kashmir dispute is the oldest unresolved international conflict in the world today. The United Nations does not consider Indian claim of Kashmir being integral part, as legally valid: it recognizes Kashmir as a disputed territory. With the exception of India, the entire world community recognizes Kashmir as a disputed territory.

Those who are creating this hype after hoisting of Pakistani flag in disputed territory of Indian occupied Kashmir are mum when Indian Flag is hoisted by the Indian army on 26th Jan, Why so blare over Pakistani flags? If Kashmir could not become India despite Indian flag being hoisted here for the past 68 years how would hoisting of Pakistani flag for an hour or so make it Pakistan.

The most concerning thing should be RSS plan of proving Kashmir the integral part and the refusal of BJP ministers to hoist State flag by saying that we have always believed in one flag for Bharat and no other flags beside it. Why all voices become silent when the recognized disputed land is subjected as ones territory, why so silence when the identity of Kashmir is in danger, why so quiet when those wearing Indian army uniforms kills the future of Kashmir so brutally, and at that time no voices in favor of these so called people of integral part. Why selective affiliation with Kashmir, you kill us, rape us, torture us, disappear us and when we show response you own us? Why don’t you own us when we are being killed? At that time we are some separatist and when we act as separatist, seditious charges are applied as you believe we are part of the country and can’t go against the law!

So those booking Kashmiris under seditious charges, if they are really worried about the respect of their country and flag and don’t want to see the disrespect against it, should have never allowed its army to illegally occupy the land & lives of people of Kashmir, they should have raised their voice even after the killing of 94000 innocent lives, or most recently they should have helped this drowned nation in the centuries worst flood instead of taunting them to go and seek help from Pakistan. Let the people of this disputed area decide what they want and let them live with respect the way you are expecting it for yourself!