There was a massive protest that took place on Friday outside the Indian Embassy in Brussels where political activity is concentrated in the EU. The Kashmir Council EU led the organization of a strong show of solidarity against recent Indian military warfare in Azad Kashmir and Pakistan. The protest was meant to confront India’s actions of initiating a serious escalation in South Asia.

Numerous people attended, including different ethnicities from all over Pakistan, Kashmiri diaspora as well as representatives for Europe’s organizations that engage in politics, and rights issues. Thousands of people at the protest held signs and banners with huge letters reading “Stop Indian Aggression”, “Peace not War” and “Hands Off Pakistan” all protesting India’s aggressive build up.

Demonstrators charged India of initiating unforeseen and unnecessary attacks on Azad Kashmir and Pakistani lands using fighter jets and drones

While people protested, their words were pronounced in unison and slogans were loudly chanted in chorus. Demonstrators charged India of initiating unforeseen and unnecessary attacks on Azad Kashmir and Pakistani lands using fighter jets and drones. The demonstration declared those offenses as open rebellions against Pakistan’s sovereignty as well as awful provocations capable of destabilizing the already precarious South Asian equilibrium.

The protest was attended by representatives from the Muslim League-Nawaz, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), EU-Pak Belgium Federation, Stability of Pakistan, Hum Hain Pakistan, Pakistan Minority Legal Aid, and Ittefaq Welfare Society

Kashmir Council EU organized boycott of a joint protest that represented a coalition of political and civic groups to express opposition to what they felt were ‘cowardly and shameful’ Indian airstrikes. The protest was attended by representatives from the Muslim League-Nawaz, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), EU-Pak Belgium Federation, Stability of Pakistan, Hum Hain Pakistan, Pakistan Minority Legal Aid, and Ittefaq Welfare Society.

Coordinated actions by the diaspora exposed intensified fears within such groups on India’s military situation and its wider security implications for the region, let alone the world itself.

Addressing the assemblage, speeches energetically vilified the state in India. Speakers in the public blamed India for potential strikes on citizens, houses of worship openly calling them inhumane and outright violations of international human rights laws. The leaders of the protest stated that the struggles for territories are not the only issue; there are also important cases of breaches of human rights law through destruction of holy sites. Several speakers urged the leaders in the world to raise their voices and save India from further provocations.

Ali Raza Syed, Chairman of the Kashmir Council EU, remarked about the serious consequences of India’s continuing military activities.  ‘It can readily be seen that these incidents reflect acts of aggression without pretext,’ Syed explained. He brought out the risks these actions pose to regional stability and called upon the international community to hold India responsible.

He called upon the European Union, UN, and other international bodies to exercise their authority to speak and stop further aggression

According to Syed, the Kashmir Council EU will try to declare its position on these developments, and it will not just lay dormant. Our aim is to ensure that motivated and illegitimate action in India is brought to international forums. He called upon the European Union, UN, and other international bodies to exercise their authority to speak and stop further aggression and proceed with necessary task of dealing with this escalating situation.

During the protest demonstrators constantly expressed their discontent with the international community’s seeming reluctance to hold India accountable regarding matters touching on Kashmir and Pakistan. It was obvious that the impact of Western and international bodies usually does not serve India’s interests, whatever the country’s policies may do to regional stability.

Participants demanded a non-violent remedy to the Kashmir issue

Participants demanded a non-violent remedy to the Kashmir issue and solidly opposed violent solutions. Use of force was apparent to the protestors and would only serve to increase the existing tensions without achieving the road to peace.

As well as criticizing recent military interventions, the Brussels protest demanded justice, accountability, and discussion of the situation on the street. It informed about the key issues of the diaspora and growing tension between two-nuclear states and the catastrophic humanitarian implications of such tensions.

The protest organized by the Kashmir Council EU was an outright message to India and the international community that no aggressive move should be passed as unseen by the international community

The protest organized by the Kashmir Council EU was an outright message to India and the international community that no aggressive move should be passed as unseen by the international community. With geopolitical tensions in South Asia heating off and an audible flow of concern originating from all points besides South Asia, especially from Brussels, there is the need for restraint, strict adherence to international norms, and focus on diplomatic solutions. This anger is the beginning of protests outside of the Indian embassy in Brussels and it was a reminder to the world that it should think with its conscience.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not represent the views, beliefs, or policies of the Stratheia.