Kashmir and Palestine: Two occupations bound by struggle

Israel's occupation of Palestine and India's occupation of Kashmir are two blots on the international record.

Israel has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and displaced millions more in what is now the longest-continuous military occupation in modern history. 

Palestinians today suffer either a 17-year blockade, a brutal occupation, apartheid, or forced exile. As we speak, Israel carries out genocide in Gaza, with the population on the brink of famine. 

For their part, India has killed 60,000 Kashmiris since the 1980s. The people of Kashmir live through extrajudicial killings, cases of forced disappearance, and rife sexual violence at the hands of the Indian military. 

One an expression of Western settler colonialism in the Middle East, the other a violent hangover of Britain’s Partition of India, the two tales of occupation share similarities and differences. But both people today share a common goal: the struggle for self-determination in a global order tainted by anti-Arab prejudice and Islamophobia.

Palestinian compromises for peace have been consistently rejected, met instead with further illegal Israeli annexation of Palestinian land. Simultaneously, Kashmiri demands for freedom have been weaponised in a Nuclear-armed tussle between India and Pakistan. 

We, the international community, have remained silent throughout. 

'Toothless' UN has failed Palestine and Kashmir

One of the major failings of the UN lies in its approach to conflict resolution, notably the absence of formal treaties following ceasefires.

Occupation and conflict supposedly ‘resolved’ by the UN have instead led to peculiar armistices and low-level conflict, with South Korea in 1953 and Kosovo in 1999 as examples.

The UN, not originally designed to facilitate final treaty negotiations, leaves them in a perpetual state of uncertainty. We see this today in East Timor and Myanmar, where the absence of a comprehensive treaty means tensions remain unresolved and sustained peace treaties go missing. 

When looking at Israel’s occupation of Palestine and India’s occupation of Kashmir, we mustn't forget that the United Nations emerged as a product of the victors of World War II. 

The five members of the UN Security Council — the United States, Great Britain, France, China, and Russia — remain assured of their monopoly. The effectiveness of the UN is therefore apparent when the interests of the dominant powers align with human rights. In cases where their interests diverge, the UN is ineffective. 

We see this today with the US vetoing any resolutions that condemn Israel’s behaviour.

The repercussions of these unresolved matters issues cut deep; the spectre of illegal military occupation and psychological trauma loom large over millions of Palestinians and Kashmiris alike.

No action, no hope

Israel’s occupation of Palestine and India’s occupation of Kashmir have, predictably, destroyed the lives and livelihoods of the people. Education is stifled, unemployment is rife, and healthcare is on its knees.

Yet, in the face of such adversities, the resilience displayed by both Palestinians and Kashmiris is to be celebrated. Their steadfast defiance in the face of occupation serves as a testament to their unwavering spirit that thrives despite the odds.

Finding a just and fair resolution in Palestine and Kashmir demands sustained diplomatic efforts, both at home and abroad. 

Throughout my political career – from Manchester City Council and the European Parliament to the House of Commons – I have always advocated for the oppressed, particularly in Palestine and Kashmir.

In November, I stood down as Labour’s Shadow Minister for Exports to vote in favour of a motion in Parliament in support of a ceasefire in Gaza and have repeatedly held the government to account for their failure to condemn Israel's assault on Gaza.

Let me be clear. As long as the UK refuses to provide any meaningful support for the Palestinians – which many of us in Parliament have been calling for – the longer we remain complicit in occupation, apartheid, and genocide. 

The issue of a just resolution in Palestine extends beyond physical land, particularly in the religious significant city of Jerusalem.

I hope to see Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state in my lifetime and the UK must ensure that it supports the safety and sanctity of this resolution.

In Kashmir, we must continue to fight for the aspirations and identity of the Kashmiri people, with questions of self-determination, autonomy, and cultural identity at its core. As the proud son of a Kashmiri woman, it's my duty to highlight the horrific abuses that Kashmiris face at the hands of the Indian government. 

In both cases, we should remain steadfast in our commitment and never abandon their plight. We simply cannot afford to leave at its peak. Those of us who have a voice and the freedom to use it must ensure we are doing everything to lobby for the freedom of others.

To turn a blind eye now is to forsake the pursuit of enduring peace, setting a disconcerting precedent that may reverberate far beyond the confines of their regions.

It’s incumbent on us – citizens of the world committed to peace, safety and security for those who have been oppressed for too long – to recognise the risks of leaving these issues unaddressed and reaffirm our commitment to peace, justice, and equality on the world stage.