Srinagar: The All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) has sharply criticized India for allegedly accelerating its settler-colonial project in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), accusing the nation of systematic land seizures and demographic engineering.

According to a statement by Kashmir Media Service, APHC spokesman Advocate Abdul Rashid Minhas highlighted the continuation of what he termed as India’s colonial occupation of Kashmir, which began with the 1947 invasion of Srinagar. Minhas argued that this occupation has been marked by ongoing exploitation and suppression of the indigenous population.

He pointed to the revocation of Kashmir’s special status on August 5, 2019, as a significant step in India’s alleged colonization efforts, suggesting that it was part of a broader scheme by Hindutva forces to erase the distinct identity of Kashmir.

Minhas further claimed that India is altering the demographic structure of IIOJK by settling non-Kashmiri Hindus, thereby marginalizing local populations. He accused Indian business tycoons of being instrumental in advancing this agenda, drawing comparisons to the situation in Palestine.

In his statement, Minhas condemned India’s alleged violations of United Nations resolutions and international law, criticizing the global community’s silence. He urged the international community to hold India accountable for its actions in IIOJK.