APHC Calls for International Recognition of Kashmir Dispute and Justice for Political Prisoners

The All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) has reiterated that the Kashmir dispute is a longstanding international issue, urging the global community to hold India accountable for its actions in the region.

The All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) has once again emphasized that the Kashmir dispute is not an internal matter for India, but an international issue recognized by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) through its resolutions. The APHC has condemned India’s unilateral actions of August 5, 2019, which revoked the special status of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), calling these actions a direct violation of international law and UNSC resolutions.

In a statement issued from Srinagar, APHC spokesman Advocate Abdul Rashid Minhas stated that India’s actions cannot alter the internationally recognized status of IIOJK as a disputed territory. He pointed out that India’s insistence on portraying the Kashmir issue as an “internal matter” is an attempt to evade international accountability and ignore the long-standing commitments made under UNSC resolutions.

The APHC spokesman strongly criticized India’s settler-colonial policies in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). He argued that these policies are a blatant violation of international law, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention, which protects the rights of people under occupation. Minhas also expressed concern over the lack of response from the international community, which he believes has emboldened India’s actions. He urged the world to press India to halt its aggression and comply with its obligations under international law, especially the right of the Kashmiri people to self-determination, as guaranteed by the UN.

Minhas further highlighted the plight of the Kashmiri political prisoners, especially the Hurriyat leadership, who are enduring illegal detention under harsh conditions. He commended their unwavering commitment to the cause of self-determination, noting that their sacrifices are shaping a new chapter in the history of Kashmir’s struggle.

The APHC expressed grave concern over the deteriorating health conditions of many political prisoners, including prominent leaders such as APHC Chairman Masarrat Aalam Butt, Shabbir Ahmed Shah, Muhammad Yasin Malik, and others. The statement also named several other activists who are languishing in jails in both India and the occupied territory. Minhas condemned the criminal neglect shown by Indian authorities toward these prisoners, particularly those in critical health, describing it as a clear violation of the rights of prisoners as outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) of 1948.

The APHC’s statement calls on the international community to intensify pressure on India to release the political prisoners and to ensure that Kashmiris’ fundamental rights are upheld. The Hurriyat leadership has vowed to continue their fight for the right to self-determination, despite the ongoing repression they face.