Srinagar: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) has faced widespread condemnation, being labeled as a propaganda exercise to mislead the international community about the ground realities in the region.

According to a statement by Kashmir Media Service, the visit is perceived as an effort to project an image of normalcy and development while masking India’s ongoing human rights violations and oppressive policies in the disputed territory.

Instead of addressing the aspirations of the Kashmiri people, Modi’s visit has reportedly exacerbated their hardships. Heightened restrictions, increased frisking, searches, arrests, and a heavy security clampdown have reinforced perceptions that India is more focused on consolidating its control than pursuing peace and development in line with United Nations resolutions on Kashmir.

Critics assert that the visit aligns with the anti-Kashmir agenda of the regime, which they claim has intensified efforts to change the region’s demography for expansionist objectives.

Furthermore, infrastructure projects in IIOJK are criticized as violations of international laws and human rights charters. Implemented without local consultation, these projects raise concerns of coercion and marginalization, further isolating the territory’s population.

Projects such as the Z-Morh Tunnel, set to be inaugurated by Modi, are viewed as military-centric, aimed at enhancing the mobility of Indian forces rather than addressing the developmental needs of the region.

Human rights organizations have pointed out the lack of transparency and accountability, which they argue breaches democratic principles and contravenes United Nations mandates to protect the rights of indigenous populations in disputed territories.

Locals perceive these developments as part of a strategy to militarize and oppress, serving India’s strategic interests rather than benefiting the people of IIOJK.