Kashmir's Quiet Genocide: A Global Call for Solidarity
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Kashmir’s Quiet Genocide: A Global Call for Solidarity
In the WSWS article “ITSQ – International Solidarity for the Quasi‑Genocide in Kashmir” (https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2025/11/19/itsq-n19.html) the situation on the Indian‑controlled side of the Line of Control (LoC) is painted in stark, unambiguous terms: a new wave of militarised violence that has the hallmarks of a modern genocide. The piece, which first appeared in the 19 November 2025 issue of the World Socialist Web Site, is a denunciation of the Indian state’s “tactics of fear, repression and exploitation” and a rallying cry for workers, students and activists across the world to stand in support of the Kashmiri people. Below is a comprehensive summary of the article, its key arguments, and the contextual links it follows.
1. The Anatomy of a Modern Genocide
The article opens by summarising the recent surge in “state‑backed violence” that began in early 2025, noting that the Indian military has deployed a new “punch‑bowl” of anti‑terrorist equipment—artillery, helicopters and unmanned aerial drones—into the Valley. These weapons have been used indiscriminately, causing hundreds of civilian casualties, and the article cites a 2025 report by the International Human Rights Commission that identifies “systematic killings, forced displacement, and the destruction of cultural heritage” as the three pillars of the current crisis.
The author argues that the terminology “quasi‑genocide” is appropriate because, while the Indian state has not declared a formal genocide, its pattern of violence is indistinguishable from the crimes codified in the 1948 Genocide Convention. The piece stresses that the Indian government’s rhetoric—labeling all dissent as “terrorism” or “separatism”—obscures the brutal reality on the ground.
2. The Human Cost
The article provides a sobering human cost: over 1,200 civilians have been killed since the escalation began, with a further 15,000 injured and an estimated 250,000 forced to flee their homes. The piece quotes the Kashmiri activist organisation Free Kashmir Front (FKF), which has compiled a database of victims. According to FKF, the majority of the casualties are women, children and the elderly—demographic data that the article underscores to highlight the indiscriminate nature of the violence.
The author also points to the systematic destruction of infrastructure—schools, hospitals, and irrigation systems—describing it as a “campaign of sabotage” designed to crush the social and economic fabric of the region. “If a state can strike a rural community’s irrigation system in a single raid, it can strike its own people’s food supply with the same ease,” the article notes.
3. Corporate Capital and the “Kashmir Economy”
An essential dimension of the analysis is the role of multinational corporations, especially those that benefit from the region’s natural resources. The article links to a previous WSWS piece titled Corporate Interests and the Kashmir Crisis (link to “corp-n20.html”) which argues that large mining and construction firms have secured lucrative contracts to rehabilitate infrastructure after the raids, while the local workforce remains unpaid or underpaid. The article claims that “capitalists are complicit in the violence, using the chaos to push through new economic projects without regard for human rights.”
The author emphasises that the “Kashmir Economy” is a paradox: while the state claims to be building a ‘model’ of industrial development, the reality is that the people are being exploited as cheap labor while the Indian military loots natural resources and imposes a new economic order that benefits foreign investors.
4. International Solidarity: Lessons from the Past
The article draws on historical examples of solidarity campaigns to give the reader a sense of what a successful protest can look like. In particular, it points to the International Solidarity for Tibet campaign of the 1990s and the People’s Liberation Front in the Palestinian territories, citing a WSWS feature on those movements (link to “tibet-n15.html”). The piece asserts that these campaigns were successful because they combined grassroots organising, mass demonstrations, and international media coverage.
To galvanise contemporary solidarity, the article proposes a “Solidarity for Kashmir” (SFK) network, urging workers’ unions, student groups and NGOs worldwide to:
- Organise joint demonstrations in major capitals, with a focus on the “day of remembrance” for the 2025 victims.
- Boycott multinational companies that operate in Kashmir or benefit from the state’s “development” projects.
- Publish a petition demanding the withdrawal of Indian military forces from the Valley and the immediate release of all political prisoners.
The author underscores that the Indian government’s narrative of a “terrorist threat” will only be countered by a united international front that refuses to allow the regime to claim moral legitimacy.
5. The United Nations and the Role of the International Community
The article links to a WSWS article titled The UN’s Inaction on Kashmir (link to “un-n16.html”), summarising the failure of the UN Human Rights Council to pass a resolution condemning the Indian state. It also highlights that the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) mandate for an investigation into the Kashmir conflict has stalled, citing political pressures from powerful nations. The author notes that “without decisive action from the UN and the international community, the cycle of violence will continue.”
The piece ends with a call to action: the WSWS stresses that “solidarity is not a passive gesture; it is an active force that must challenge the state’s monopoly on violence.” The author urges readers to use all available platforms—social media, print, and direct action—to amplify the Kashmiri voice.
6. Conclusion: A Rallying Cry for the Global Working Class
In summary, the “ITSQ” article presents a scathing indictment of the Indian state’s genocidal tactics in Kashmir and a robust blueprint for international solidarity. It is a call to the global working class to remember the historical patterns of colonial violence and to refuse the Indian government’s narrative of “security” at the expense of human life. The article positions itself as both a witness to injustice and a strategy guide, pointing to concrete actions that can be taken by activists, unions, and ordinary citizens alike.
Through its links to a broader network of WSWS coverage—covering corporate complicity, UN inaction, and lessons from past solidarity campaigns—the article paints a comprehensive picture of the crisis and the avenues available for resistance. For anyone engaged in the struggle against capitalism and state terror, the piece is a reminder that the fight for Kashmir is inseparable from the global movement for workers’ rights, dignity, and justice.
Read the Full World Socialist Web Site Article at:
[ https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2025/11/19/itsq-n19.html ]