APRIL-11-2020
Covid - 19 for
Indian Occupied Kashmir
Lockdown admidst Lockdown
By: Ayesha Waheed Edit By: Altaf Hussain Wani
On March 21, 2020, the first coronavirus case was found in The World Health Organization declared Coronavirus as a
the region’s main city of Indian Occupied Kashmir, Srinagar. pandemic on the 11th of March 2020, since then 2,034,802
Soon after the confirmation of the declared Corona case, confirmed cases have been reported and 135,163 have died
Indian government appealed to the people of IOK to take due to this COVID-19. Moreover, this pandemic is bringing
safety measures to prevent the outbreak. But the question the economic depression on the global level, as the stock
arises how could these people be able to access any markets are tumbling, the hospitality industry, tourism, air
information on the pandemic, in the absence of the internet? and road travel are all facing huge losses. According to the
How could they be able to stock food and medical supplies estimation of Australian National University (ANU), the world
at home, when they are already suffering from the lockdown may experience the global GDP loss of $2.4 trillion, with an
occurred on August 5, 2019, due to revocation of Article 370 estimated death toll of 15 million.
of Indian Constitution? The essential food
As the world scrambles to manage the coronavirus pandem-
and medical stores had been shut since then. Their sources ic, dread and tension, win in Indian-directed Kashmir after
of employment are also under severe threat. So how could many COVID-19 cases were identified. Kashmir Valley’s
the Indian government even guide them to stay at home graph for COVID19 is showing a steep rise. The total number
when they have been restricted from travelling due to travel of coronavirus positive cases in the Indian Occupied
blockades across the region since August 5? Kashmir has increased to 278, with 48,000 people under
observation in Indian Occupied Kashmir. Hospitals and Social isolation and frequent hand-wash, might be preven-
emergency clinics in the contested Himalayan locale have tive techniques for the world, during this COVID-19
an intense deficiency of specialists and paramedics, while lockdown, but these two advisories might instill or trigger
its social insurance offices are lacking to meet the emergen- Obsessive Compulsive
cy which has disrupted nations with world-class medical “COVID-19 Information Blackout Hitting Occupied Kashmir Hard.” Daily
Times, March 22, 2020. https://dailytimes.com.pk/580598/covid-19-informa-
infrastructure. "We aren't testing tion-blackout-hitting-occupied-kashmir-hard/.
“COVID-19 Information Blackout Hitting Occupied Kashmir Hard.” Daily Reuters. “India's Internet Curbs in Held Kashmir Hamper Coronavirus Fight.”
Times, March 22, 2020. https://dailytimes.com.pk/580598/covid-19-informa- DAWN.COM, March 31, 2020. https://www.dawn.com/news/1545148.
tion-blackout-hitting-occupied-kashmir-hard/.
“Coronavirus.” World Health Organization. World Health Organization. Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, adjustmental
Accessed April 10, 2020. https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/nov-
el-coronavirus-2019. disorders, severe depression, etc, for the people of IOK, who
“From Kashmir's Forced Lockdown to COVID-19 Lockdowns.” Daily Times, are already battling with their psychological issues because
March 21, 2020. https://dailytimes.com.pk/580502/from-kash-
mirs-forced-lockdown-to-covid-19-lockdowns/.
of residing in such a conflicted area. These issues would
now escalate to a whole different peak because people of
proactively and enough," Junaid Mattu, mayor of Srinagar, IOK have been facing lockdown since August 5, and now the
said. "We aren't preparing for the worst." Covid-19 lockdown would instigate more psychological
Despite the rising number of cases, on 17 March, the Govern- issues.
ment of Indian Occupied Kashmir ordered for the continued In the wake of COVID-19, when social distancing is obligato-
restrictions on full internet services such as restricting ry, it is highly suggested to Indian government to release
speed to 2G in the region. Complete internet shutdowns those who are under trials, particularly Kashmiri prisoners
have also been imposed intermittently in certain areas in the who have been arrested under Public safety act (PSA), after
guise of security. To contain the spread of the virus, the 5th August 2019 and held in far-flung jails of India. Because
Government also ordered for the shutdown of all education- of overcrowded and pathetically maintained jails, it is better
al institutions, public parks, hotels, restaurants and other to release them, otherwise be ready to face the worst
restrictions on public gatherings. There is a growing anxiety consequences, as there would be high chances of getting
about the pandemic and unwarranted restrictions on affected from the coronavirus in such miserable conditions.
content and dissemination of information only stands to add Those inmates who had been shifted to the jails outside
to the panic. Kashmir are facing dreadful conditions due to overcrowded
The Indian administration is installing anxiety and fear jails. Tihar jail is one of these jails, which is carrying 17,534
among the people of IOK as they are not being transparent inmates and its capacity is not more than carrying a popula-
with them. Ideally, they should have restored high speed tion of 10,000 inmates. “An outbreak of COVID-19 in a
internet connection in the region, so people could have prison could be devastating to the population there, especial-
access to the substantiate information. The situation of ly an overcrowded prison”, said Elena Leclerc, the Health in
health institutions in IOK is a hotbed of all the pandemic and Detention programme coordinator for the International
it is no worse than dying at home from covid-19. The Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
hospitals are lacking the efficient medical staff and As India has recorded the highest spike with 478 coronavi-
equipment, for battling the situation properly. A veteran rus confirmed cases in 24 hours; total over than 14000
specialist, the previous head of Government Medical College confirmed cases and increasing. At this moment, the
(GMC) in Srinagar who is familiar with the locale's human question is about the insurance of safety of people of IOK,
services offices, cautioned that a significant catastrophe detained outside the region as India has already reached the
could happen. However, in the absence of high internet level of outbreak of coronavirus after a 56-year-old man
connection, the doctors in IOK have been deprived of died due to Covid-19 in Dharavi slum, which is a home to
attending the online training session, arranged by Indian around 1 million people. Dharavi slum has a population
health ministry, on managing ventilators- critical equipment density of almost 30 times greater than New York --and that
for patients with COVID-19. “We want to educate people is about 280,000 people per square kilometer. Six interna-
through videos, which is not possible at 2G speed. We are tional human rights organizations in a recent joint statement
handicapped in the absence of high speed internet,” Dr in Geneva stressed Indian
Suhail Naik, president of the main doctors’ association in “Covid-19: Kashmir Needs to Keep Check on Mental Health.” Rising Kashmir.
Kashmir, said. The audit noted that the doctor to patient Accessed April 10, 2020. http://risingkashmir.com/article/covid-19-kash-
mir-needs-to-keep-check-on-mental-health?fbclid=IwAR3MglaQJ6zG_wXqu
ratio in the Kashmir region is one of the lowest in India. 0ijVboZtjcregiQyFAqYJctsuv2v-1tFK1eMcP-9r0.
"Compared to the doctor-patient ratio of 1:2,000 in India, “AJK Leader Demands Urgent Release Of Kashmiri Prisoners.” UrduPoint.
Accessed April 10, 2020. https://www.urdupoint.com/en/kashmir/ajk-lead-
Jammu and Kashmir, has one allopathic doctor for 3,866 er-demands-urgent-release-of-kashmiri-881299.html.
people against the WHO norm of one doctor for 1,000 Al Jazeera. “Coronavirus: Kashmiris Fear for Safety of Kin in 'Cramped' Jails.”
Coronavirus pandemic News | Al Jazeera. Al Jazeera, April 14, 2020. https://w-
population," it said. ww.aljazeera.com/news/2020/04/coronavirus-kash-
miris-fear-safety-kin-cramped-jails-200413103319099.html. their land would be soon snatched by the Indians, who aim
Regan, Helen. “Indian Doctors Say the Country Must Prepare for an
'Onslaught' of Coronavirus Cases.” CNN. Cable News Network, April 4, 2020.
to settle in IOK permanently, which would convert the IOK
h t t p s : / / e d i t i o n . c n n . c o m / 2 0 2 0 / 0 4 / 0 3 / a s i a / i n d i a - d o c t o r s - c o ro n a - from muslim majority region to Muslim minority. Indeed,
virus-intl-hnk/index.html.
Article 370 abrogation, Citizenship Act and now Kashmir
government to release the arbitrarily detained Kashmiri domicile law, are acting upon the extermination of Muslim
prisoners, as India has an obligation to ensure the physical community in India. The Kashmiri residents are striving for
and mental health and well-being of inmates, under Interna- their right of Self-determination under a complete threat of
tional law. their right of life. The misery of these people were on their
peak, when they got hit by the COVID-19 lockdown. Instead
On one hand, where students from all over the world are of giving relief, Indian authorities are continuously torturing
attending online classes, arranged by their academic the innocent masses of Kashmiris until they give up on their
institutions, amidst COVID-19 lockdown, the Kashmiri lives to save their loved ones.
students are still deprived of going to school or attend any
kind of online working since August 2019 lockdown. Pakistan, during the video conference of SAARC countries,
Nothing has changed for the poor people of Kashmir. They clarified its stance regarding the health emergence in IOK,
are frustrated and angry because they have not access to thus demanded India, to lift the restriction on communica-
their basic right of education. In case, if their institutions are tions and ensure access to medical supplies to the people
arranging online classes, they would not be able to learn over there. Amnesty International also condemned Indian
from them too, because of the continuous internet blockade. government for not restoring or improving the Internet
When Indian government claims to provide internet facilities connection in the region. Furthermore, Human Rights Watch,
in IOK, they mean 2G connection, which is absolutely of no a non-governmental rights group, convicted India and
use as online classes do not work on 2G and they are unable emphasized to pull back the restrictions on access to the
to download study material. They are urging the government Internet in Kashmir. “Internet shutdowns block people from
to restore the high speed internet, so they could have getting essential information and services. For many
access to their virtual classes. children and others seeking an education, the Internet is
needed to continue learning as schools shutter around the
Furthermore, Indian government didn’t even resist applying world,” said Deborah Brown, senior digital rights researcher
the policies based on apertheid in Indian occupied Kashmir. and advocate of HRW. Referring to the global pandemic, she
Amidst the COVID-19 breakout in the whole world, Indian focused on the insurance from the government authorities
government decided to subdue the Kashmiri’s right of to provide the immediate access to the fastest and broadest
self-determination by introducing the new Kashmir domicile possible service for all. The World Health Organization also
law, according to which, those who have been living in suggested that Indian government should act efficiently in
Kashmir over a period of 15 years, automatically attains the IOK to combat the covid-19 pandemic by uplifting the
right of permanent citizenship. After the revocation of existing lockdown, in which the innocent masses of IOK
Article 370 of Indian Constitution, which absolutely abrogat- have been deprived of basic essentials of life, such as
ed the special status granted to Jammu and Kashmir, the access to food, health, travel and communication resources.
new Kashmir domicile law is evident to be the second
Engr, and Zamir Ahmed Awan. “Kashmir Lockdown and SAARC Platform to
attempt by the Indian administration to bring demographic Address COVID-19.” Modern Diplomacy, March 16, 2020. https://moderndip-
flooding to IOK. The new kashmiri law is seemed to be l o m a c y . e u / 2 0 2 0 / 0 3 / 1 7 / k a s h m i r - l o c k -
down-and-saarc-platform-to-address-covid-19/.
lenient for Indians and harsh for the Kashmiris in many
“End Internet Shutdowns to Manage COVID-19.” Human Rights Watch,
cases, such as those who have resided for a period of 15 March 31, 2020. https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/03/31/end-internet-shut-
downs-manage-covid-19.
years in Indian-occupied Kashmir or studied for a period of
Agarwal, Namrata. “WHO Advises against Lockdowns, Says COVID-19
seven years and appeared in Class 10/12 examinations in Coronavirus May Resurge Later.” Zee News. Zee News, March 22, 2020.
educational institutions located in the region are now https://zeenews.india.com/world/who-advises-against-lock-
downs-says-covid-19-coronavirus-may-resurge-later-2270965.html.
eligible to become permanent residents. In addition to this,
under this law, the children of central government officials, During the pandemic COVID-19, it is not about the territorial
who served in IOK for at least 10 years, are also eligible for sovereignty or integrity between the two states, but it is
permanent citizenship. completely related to human rights violation on an epic. It is
“Class 5 Student from Kashmir Writes to the Prime Minister ...” Accessed April mandatory for the government to reinstate the high speed
10, 2020. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/-
class-5-student-from-kashmir-writes-to-the-prime-minister/article31222680.e internet facilities in the region for the connectivity and
ce. awareness of people. Eight million population of IOK are
Al Jazeera. “Demographic Flooding: India Introduces New Kashmir Domicile
Law.” Kashmir News News | Al Jazeera. Al Jazeera, April 1, 2020. https://ww-
living in chaos because of vague, unreliable and incomplete
w.aljazeera.com/news/2020/04/flooding-india-intro- information regarding the spread of pandemic. On the other
duces-kashmir-domicile-law-200401100651450.html.
hand, the health professionals and workers are also not
Kashmiris are fearing from this demographic flooding as being updated on the matter of Covid-19. This is evident to
be the negligence, criminal and irresponsible behavior of zones. This appeal would also be applicable on the case of
Indian government regarding this. Kashmir Civitas, a civil Kashmir dispute, but the brutality and authoritarianism of
society and advocacy group, called on the World Health Modi, Prime minister of India could be evident by the
Organization, to press the Indian government to lift the incident of applying lockdown amidst lockdown in Indian
communication siege and give Kashmiris access to the Occupied Kashmir, to bring all Kashmiris to strive for death.
latest health updates. Moreover, the Indian government is India, rather than relaxing the Line of Control, engages in
worsening the situation by avoiding testing at the entry violation of ceasefire, across the borders, causing
points to IOK and locking up citizens without adequate casualties.
medical preparation. “COVID-19 Information Blackout Hitting Occupied Kashmir Hard.” Daily
Times, March 22, 2020. https://dailytimes.com.pk/580598/covid-19-informa-
tion-blackout-hitting-occupied-kashmir-hard/.
The Indian authorities need to compensate the Kashmiris for
Uploader. “UN Chief's Appeal for Global Ceasefire Applies to LoC in Disputed
the economic deprivation, from which they are suffering Kashmir: Spokesman.” Associated Press Of Pakistan, April 9, 2020. https://w-
since the lockdown August, 2019. They should provide ww.app.com.pk/un-chiefs-appeal-for-global-cease-
fire-applies-to-loc-in-disputed-kashmir-spokesman/?fbclid=IwAR3flKiu_TFtm
people with relief packages in such a catastrophe, instead a8myeAJq6vDz9JwLJ6LDkBeeFc9IbbbZvgqB8lLXHIVbyU.
of leaving them in absolute chaos. They need to adopt
People in Indian Occupied Kashmir, were forced to stay in
proper measures to protect the poor and vulnerable people
their homes and were subjected to the harshest laws
of IOK, by providing rations to them, so they could not starve
including communication lockdown, arbitrary arrests and
to death in such a harsh lockdown, as this strict, centralized
curfew since August 5, 2019. This is still continuing. The
and unplanned step by Indian government can create chaos,
comparisons that have emerged are understandable
starvation and death.
between the existing IOK lockdown and Covid-19_ world
“There is no region in the world, in which the Secretary-Gen- under lockdown. Meanwhile, in Kashmir and other conflict-
eral’s call for global ceasefire does not apply,” the UN chief’s ed areas, people are being locked down under oppressive
spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. The UN chief’s regimes denying them their human rights. And for the world,
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’, explained COVID-19, these are just preventive measures for their own safety. It’s
as an epidemic global crisis. He made a global appeal to the not the same thing at all.
states for launching a ceasefire in the world’s conflicted
About the Author
Ms. Ayesha Waheed is a Researcher at Kashmir Institute of International Relations (KIIR).
She can be reached via twitter at @Ayesha58489614
& E-mail at ayeshawaheed996@gmail.com
Basement, Rubani Center, Phone: 051-831 3723-4
Allah Wali Market, Street 33, F-8/1, Fax: 051-835 6310
Islamabad-Pakistan. Email: admin@kiir.org.pk
kiirnpo www.kiir.org.pk
