ISLAMABAD: The All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) has strongly criticized the Narendra Modi-led Indian government for its systematic exploitation of the natural resources in occupied Jammu and Kashmir. The APHC spokesperson, Advocate Abdul Rashid Minhas, emphasized that this exploitation is part of a broader strategy to perpetuate the economic marginalization of the Kashmiri people.
Since the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status on August 5, 2019, the Modi government has intensified its efforts to disempower Kashmiris politically, constitutionally, culturally, and economically, according to Minhas. He highlighted India’s long history of exploiting the region’s water, mineral, forest, and other resources, leading to economic dependence on the Indian state.
Minhas pointed out specific instances of recent exploitation, including the leasing of electricity from Kishtwar’s Ratle Power Project and the resumption of auctions of lithium reserves in Reasi. The APHC expressed concern over the outsourcing of contracts to exploit these resources, noting that such practices primarily benefit the cronies of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Furthermore, the deliberate underdevelopment of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) through the plundering of its natural resources serves to reinforce India’s illegal occupation of the territory. The APHC called on the international community to exert pressure on India into respecting the rights of Kashmiris to their land and natural resources.
