Srinagar: The All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) has accused the BJP-led Indian government of making ongoing attempts to mislead the global community regarding the situation in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir. This assertion was made in a statement by APHC spokesman Advocate Abdul Rashid Minhas, according to the Kashmir Media Service.

The APHC has charged India with attributing the deteriorating situation in the region to Pakistan and the Hurriyat camp, as a means of obscuring what they describe as state terrorism, political injustices, and significant human rights violations. The spokesman highlighted an increase in arbitrary arrests of Kashmiri civilians during extensive search operations and house raids, which he claims are intended to intimidate the local population.

The statement further criticized India’s use of laws such as the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), Public Safety Act (PSA), and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) against Kashmiris, alleging these measures aim to suppress calls for self-determination. The APHC maintains that the territory has been under forced occupation since 1947, and United Nations resolutions advocating for a plebiscite underscore its disputed status.

The APHC also expressed concern over remarks made by Indian Home Minister Amit Shah and the Lieutenant Governor of the region, Manoj Sinha, suggesting that such statements pose a threat to regional peace. The conference called these statements a sign of frustration from Indian leaders and noted that the resolve of the Kashmiri people has unsettled New Delhi.

In their statement, the APHC demanded the release of several political detainees, including prominent figures such as Masarrat Aalam Butt and Shabbir Ahmad Shah, among others, who are currently held in Indian jails.