India’s Violations of International Law in IIOJK: APHC Raises Alarm

The All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) has once again raised its voice against India’s ongoing violations of international law in IIOJK, urging the international community to take a stand against the human rights abuses that continue to plague the region.

The All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), a coalition of pro-freedom parties in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), has strongly condemned India’s continuous violations of international laws and conventions in the region. According to APHC spokesman Abdul Rashid Minhas, these violations have intensified, particularly since the controversial revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status on August 5, 2019.

In a statement issued in Srinagar, Minhas highlighted how the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Indian government’s actions have deprived Kashmiris of their basic human rights, which are guaranteed under international law. He emphasized that Kashmiris, who have been under India’s illegal occupation for over 77 years, continue to face brutalities that violate both their rights and the very principles of human dignity recognized globally.

Minhas further asserted that the ongoing human rights violations in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir constitute war crimes as per international law. He pointed out that tens of thousands of Kashmiri Muslims have been martyred in the pursuit of India’s illegitimate control over the region, marking an undeniable and tragic chapter in the Kashmir conflict.

The APHC spokesman noted a sharp increase in the scale and severity of crimes against Kashmiris after the abrogation of Article 370 and 35A by the Indian government on August 5, 2019. This decision revoked the special status of IIOJK, further eroding the rights of its people. According to Minhas, India’s actions since this date have been nothing short of a war on the Kashmiri population, with increased military crackdowns, arbitrary arrests, and widespread oppression.

In addition to the violence, the Indian government is accused of trying to change the region’s demographics by encouraging non-Kashmiri settlers to move to Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. This is viewed as a direct violation of international law, as it aims to alter the region’s population balance and undermine its distinct cultural and political identity, further exacerbating the conflict.

Minhas also criticized the Indian government for masking its oppressive actions under the banner of democracy and secularism. He argued that the Indian state, while claiming to uphold democratic values, is actively targeting innocent Kashmiris and depriving them of their fundamental right to self-determination. The rhetoric of democracy, Minhas stated, stands in stark contrast to the reality on the ground, where military forces perpetrate systemic human rights violations.

The spokesman reiterated that the Kashmir dispute is one of the longest-standing conflicts in the world, and its unresolved nature continues to affect not only the people of Kashmir but also the broader South Asian region. With over 1.5 billion people directly or indirectly impacted by the conflict, Minhas stressed that a peaceful resolution is vital for the stability of the region.

Finally, Abdul Rashid Minhas called on the international community to hold India accountable and exert pressure on the Indian government to settle the Kashmir dispute in accordance with United Nations resolutions. He urged global powers to support the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination and work towards peace in the region.