Key Points
- Andrabi sentenced to life imprisonment, two aides get 30-year terms
- Convictions linked to charges of conspiracy and anti-state activities
- Pakistan questions judicial independence and due process
- Case tied to broader crackdown on dissent in IIOJK
- Islamabad urges UN and rights groups to intervene
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday strongly criticized the sentencing of prominent Kashmiri activist Asiya Andrabi and two of her associates by an Indian court, describing the decision as a serious injustice and part of a broader pattern of suppressing dissent in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
In an official statement, Pakistan’s Foreign Office rejected the life sentence handed to Andrabi, along with 30-year prison terms for Fehmeeda Sofi and Nahida Nasreen.
🔊PR No.7️⃣3️⃣/2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣6️⃣
Pakistan Condemns Sentences Awarded to Aasiya Andrabi, Fehmeeda Sofi, and Nahida Nasreen; Calls for International Attention to Human Rights in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir
🔗⬇️ pic.twitter.com/ukZzXz9z3Q— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) March 25, 2026
The three women were convicted under India’s Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and other legal provisions, including charges related to conspiracy and alleged anti-state activities.
Andrabi, founder of the group Dukhtaran-i-Millat (Daughters of the Nation), was arrested in 2018 by India’s National Investigation Agency. The organization had previously been banned by Indian authorities. The sentencing follows their conviction earlier this year in a special court in New Delhi.
Islamabad expressed concern that the ruling reflects what it described as a continued erosion of civil liberties and political freedoms in IIOJK. The Foreign Office argued that the case is part of a wider trend of legal actions aimed at silencing voices advocating for Kashmiri rights.
The statement also raised questions about the fairness of the judicial process, pointing to issues related to due process, judicial independence, and compliance with international human rights standards.
It warned that such developments could further heighten tensions in the region and undermine efforts toward peace.
Pakistan called on the international community, including the United Nations and global human rights organizations, to take notice of the case and ensure accountability. It emphasized the need to safeguard fundamental rights such as freedom of expression and the right to a fair trial.
Reaffirming its long-standing position, Islamabad reiterated its support for the people of Jammu and Kashmir, stressing their right to self-determination in line with United Nations resolutions.
The development adds to ongoing diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan over Kashmir, an Indian illegally occupied region that has remained a flashpoint between the two nuclear-armed neighbors for decades.
