Islamabad: The All Parties Hurriyat Conference Azad Jammu and Kashmir (APHC-AJK) chapter marked Youm-e-Istehsal Kashmir by submitting a memorandum to the United Nations office in Islamabad, calling for Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to actively engage in resolving the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the memorandum detailed the severe impact of India’s actions on August 5, 2019, which revoked the special status of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). This move, the APHC-AJK argues, has led to increased military presence, human rights violations, and attempts to alter the demographic and political makeup of the region.

The document outlined the ongoing crisis since the revocation of Articles 370 and 35A, highlighting issues such as legal concerns over the unilateral actions that contradict international law and United Nations Security Council resolutions. The APHC-AJK detailed the escalation in military operations, surveillance, intimidation, and the arrest of political leaders and human rights defenders.

Furthermore, the memorandum addressed the systematic disenfranchisement of the Kashmiri population through changes in domicile laws and civil service structures, which have marginalized local residents and facilitated the settlement of non-residents, altering the region’s demographic balance.

The APHC-AJK called for the UN to initiate an independent commission to investigate human rights abuses, reaffirm Kashmiris’ right to self-determination, facilitate inclusive dialogue among stakeholders, and deploy observers to monitor the situation.

The submission of this memorandum underscores the ongoing international advocacy efforts by Kashmiri representatives to highlight the plight of the people in IIOJK and seek a peaceful resolution to the conflict.