Karachi: Concerns have been raised over an increase in state-sponsored violence in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), as part of what has been described as a systematic attempt by India to suppress the Kashmiri struggle for self-determination. According to reports, Indian troops have recently martyred eight individuals, including a senior citizen, in Baramulla, Kulgam, and Rajouri districts through staged encounters.

According to the Kashmir Media Service, Political analysts and civil society members in Srinagar have expressed their dismay at these actions, viewing them as punitive measures against Kashmiris for demanding their right to self-determination, a right acknowledged by the United Nations. The killings are seen as part of a broader strategy by the Narendra Modi-led government and its establishment to diminish the indigenous population in the region.

The All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) and the Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party, in separate statements issued from Srinagar, have conveyed their grave concerns regarding the uptick in acts of violence by the Indian state. They assert that despite over 76 years of brutality, the resolve of the Kashmiris for freedom remains unbroken, and their struggle for self-determination continues unabated.

APHC leader Advocate Divender Singh Behl, in his statement from Jammu, emphasized that such brutal tactics by the Indian authorities would not intimidate the Kashmiri people into submission.

In a related development, the High Court of occupied Kashmir has granted bail to Kashmiri journalist Fahad Shah, editor of The Kashmir Walla, after more than 21 months of detention. Shah had been charged under the Public Safety Act and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for publishing statements contrary to official police reports regarding an encounter in Pulwama district. The High Court also ordered the release of three individuals detained under the PSA.

The region is currently experiencing a severe power crisis, casting doubt on the Indian government’s promises of development made during the revocation of Kashmir’s special status in August 2019. This crisis highlights the challenges faced by the local population amid ongoing political turmoil.

Meanwhile, Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai, Chairman of the World Forum for Peace & Justice in Washington, has called for a resolution of the Kashmir dispute through tripartite talks involving Pakistan, India, and the genuine Kashmiri leadership, emphasizing that this is crucial for lasting peace in South Asia.