Islamabad: Amid ongoing tensions in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), local civil society members have vocally rejected the efficacy of India’s stringent policies aimed at stifling the region’s longstanding freedom movement.
According to Kashmir Media Service, prominent civil society figures, including Dr. Zubair Ahmed, Muhammad Furhan, Muhammad Iqbal Shaheen, and Syed Haider Hussain, convened in Srinagar to discuss the persistent challenges under Indian rule. They unanimously called for the reinstatement of Articles 370 and 35-A, which granted special status to the region before their abrogation by the Indian government. The group also demanded an end to the ongoing human rights violations and advocated for a resolution to the Kashmir conflict in accordance with United Nations resolutions.
The participants highlighted that the deployment of approximately one million Indian military and security personnel has not altered the disputed nature of Kashmir, nor has it subdued the local population’s demand for self-determination. Instead, such measures have transformed IIOJK into what they described as a vast open-air prison, with regular military operations exacerbating the plight of the inhabitants.
The meeting also referenced historical grievances, including the alleged genocide of nearly 450,000 Muslims in the Jammu region during 1947-1948 and the deaths of 96,329 Kashmiris over the last 36 years due to the conflict. Furthermore, they criticized the Indian government’s efforts to alter the demographic composition of the region by issuing domicile certificates to non-natives, which they argued contravenes international laws.
The assembly concluded with a call for India and Pakistan to initiate dialogue to resolve the Kashmir issue, stressing that peace in the region hinges on a fair and peaceful resolution that includes the Kashmiri people as a primary party. The civil society members also commended the resilience of detained Hurriyat leaders and activists, who remain steadfast despite severe repression.