Athens: Altaf Hussain Wani, Chairman of the Kashmir Institute of International Relations (KIIR), has sharply criticized India’s developmental assertions in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), describing them as a facade to fortify its colonial hold over the region.

According to Kashmir Media Service, during a press conference in Athens, Wani addressed the Kashmiri and Pakistani diaspora about the severe conditions in IIOJK since August 5, 2019. He claimed that India’s developmental narratives are strategically crafted to legitimize its control, rather than bringing real benefits to Kashmiri residents. Wani highlighted changes to laws, like the domicile law, that favor non-locals with jobs, voting rights, and land ownership, thereby altering the demographic and cultural landscape of IIOJK. He also pointed out plans to construct approximately 50,000 temples as part of this strategy.