ISLAMABAD: The situation in the occupied region of Jammu and Kashmir has been a longstanding concern for various stakeholders in the international community.
Different perspectives and claims have been put forth regarding the actions and policies of India in the region, particularly in the context of human rights, terrorism, and the right to self-determination.
According to some sources and critics, there are allegations of India violating international laws and conventions, particularly in the use of chemical weapons during cordon and search operations in occupied Kashmir. The accusers claim that these actions are aimed at suppressing the demand for the resolution of the Kashmir dispute in line with the UN-acknowledged right to self-determination.
Reports from Kashmir Media Service suggest that India’s armed forces, paramilitary, and police are allegedly engaged in activities that involve the misuse of laws such as the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), leading to the death of Kashmiri youth in what are termed as fake encounters. Moreover, individuals are said to be arrested under the Public Safety Act (PSA) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) within the territory.
Criticism is also directed at the Indian government for revoking Kashmir’s special status in August 2019, a move seen by some as a violation of international laws. Furthermore, settling non-Kashmiris in the territory is viewed as contrary to United Nations resolutions.
In an attempt to alter the demographic composition of the region, it is claimed that India granted tens of thousands of domicile statuses to non-Kashmiris, which is seen as an infringement on the identity of the Kashmiri people.
From an alternate perspective, some experts assert that the ongoing struggle in occupied Jammu and Kashmir is indigenous and question the narrative that portrays India as the sole aggressor. They argue that India is defending itself against terrorism and insurgency in the region.
India has been accused of being involved in acts of terrorism within Pakistan, with the case of Kulbhushan Yadav being cited as undeniable proof of India’s direct involvement in sabotage and terror. Allegedly, India is also said to have links with certain groups inimical to Pakistan inside Afghanistan.
The All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) and civil society in Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir call upon the international community to scrutinize India’s actions in the region, its alleged patronage of terrorist entities, and its purported fomenting of terror in neighbouring countries. They further urge India to rectify its credentials on terrorism and abstain from making false accusations against Pakistan for political gains.
