Kashmir’s Right to Self-Determination: The Only Path to Peace

India’s oppression and denial of Kashmiris’ rights have only fueled the conflict—self-determination remains the only solution to the Kashmir dispute.

The All Parties Hurriyat Conference Azad Jammu and Kashmir (APHC-AJK) chapter has once again made it clear: the only solution to the Kashmir dispute is giving Kashmiris their right to self-determination, as promised by the United Nations.

APHC-AJK leaders, including Syed Yousuf Naseem, Sheikh Abdul Mateen, and others, stated that India’s undemocratic actions have become the primary obstacle to resolving the Kashmir issue. They emphasized that India’s attempt to suppress the voices of Kashmiris through violence and force is unacceptable.

With over a million Indian forces deployed in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, life for the local population has become a daily nightmare. The military has intensified its operations, imposing sieges, conducting search raids, and engaging in extrajudicial killings. Unjust arrests and other forms of oppression are now commonplace, making the region a prison for its people.

The leaders compared India’s tactics to those used by Israel in Palestine, highlighting the brutal occupation and attempts to erase the identity of the oppressed people. The situation in Kashmir has grown increasingly dire, with no end in sight to India’s violent crackdown.

The APHC-AJK leaders also expressed grave concern over the fate of detained Hurriyat leaders, activists, and youth. Thousands remain imprisoned under harsh conditions, many without trial or any legal recourse. Their families continue to suffer, with no relief in sight.

The leaders have called on international human rights organizations to increase pressure on India to release these political prisoners. They stressed that the global community must act to ensure that India is held accountable for its human rights violations in the occupied region.

The international community cannot continue to ignore the suffering of Kashmiris. India’s brutal tactics and oppressive measures have done nothing but escalate the conflict. The path to peace lies in honoring the Kashmiris’ right to self-determination and ending the occupation.

Kashmiris have long demanded the freedom to choose their own future. It’s time the world recognizes their right and forces India to adhere to international resolutions.