Islamabad, A new report underscores a significant escalation in human rights violations in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) since the revocation of its special status by the Indian government in 2019, detailing widespread abuses by Indian forces.
According to Kashmir Media Service, coinciding with the “International Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims,” the report casts a critical light on the intensifying human rights situation in IIOJK. Despite global awareness and concern from international human rights organizations, the report indicates that Indian forces continue to engage in arbitrary arrests, torture, and killings during extensive military operations across the region.
The report quantifies the grim toll of these actions, noting that since January 1989, nearly 96,292 individuals have lost their lives due to the conflict in IIOJK. It highlights the application of stringent laws like the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), Public Safety Act (PSA), and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) as tools to suppress any form of dissent or political engagement that opposes Indian rule.
Notably, the document articulates the plight of various societal groups in IIOJK, including political figures, women, youth, human rights advocates, and journalists, who have faced persecution, abductions, and mistreatment at the hands of Indian authorities.
The report calls on the United Nations to acknowledge and act against these severe human rights violations, urging accountability for Indian military and government actions in the region. It stresses the urgency of international intervention to halt these abuses and protect the rights and dignity of Kashmiri residents.
Additionally, the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) spokesman Advocate Abdul Rashid Minhas issued a statement condemning India’s coercive tactics in silencing Kashmiris’ demands for self-determination. He advocated for global human rights bodies to challenge India’s oppressive measures and emphasized the potential for resolving the Kashmir issue through sincere dialogue between India and Pakistan, aiming for a peaceful and just resolution that honors the Kashmiris’ aspirations.