Islamabad: India’s actions in occupied Jammu and Kashmir have long been a point of international contention, with the region’s political status a subject of dispute since the 1947 partition of the Subcontinent. Recent developments, including the 2019 revocation of Article 370 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration, have intensified debates over India’s intentions and strategies in the region.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the initial military presence in Srinagar on October 27, 1947, marked the beginning of what many observers describe as India’s colonial occupation of Kashmir. Critics argue that Modi’s removal of Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, represents a continuation of this colonial agenda, aiming to reshape the demographic and cultural landscape of the region.

This policy shift is perceived by many as a part of a broader strategy by India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ideological affiliate, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), to implement settler colonialism in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). Similar to tactics used by the Zionist regime in Palestinian territories, the strategy involves introducing laws that facilitate the settlement of non-local populations — particularly non-Kashmiri Hindus — into Kashmir, thereby altering its demographic makeup.

Human rights organizations and political analysts worldwide have condemned these actions, pointing out that they not only contravene United Nations resolutions but also violate international law. The global community is increasingly urged to recognize and respond to what many see as an aggressive settler-colonial project that threatens the rights and identities of the Kashmiri people.

The situation in Kashmir continues to draw international scrutiny, with calls for diplomatic interventions to ensure that local cultural, political, and human rights are respected and preserved.