Altaf Hussain Wani Criticizes Indian Narrative on IIOJK at International Forum

Altaf Hussain Wani of KIIR strongly rejects India’s claims of progress in IIOJK, calling out its human rights violations and military occupation in the region.

Altaf Hussain Wani, Chairman of the Kashmir Institute of International Relations (KIIR), has sharply criticized India’s narrative on Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), calling it in violation of international laws and norms. In a statement issued from Islamabad, Wani accused India of systematically undermining the fundamental rights and freedoms of the Kashmiri people.

According to Wani, India’s actions in IIOJK involve widespread suppression of dissent, including unjust arrests, enforced disappearances, the confiscation of properties, and the dismissal of Kashmiri government employees. He emphasized that these acts have become routine under Indian occupation and have contributed to a stifling environment in the region.

Wani also pointed out that India is making concerted efforts to change the demographic makeup of the region, despite the legitimate aspirations of the Kashmiri people for self-determination. He condemned India for its refusal to acknowledge the basic rights of Kashmiris and for attempting to forcibly alter the territory’s demographic balance.

In addition, Wani addressed India’s claims regarding the supposed political, social, and economic development in the region following the abrogation of Article 370. He rejected these claims as baseless and misleading, stressing that they were merely a cover for the ongoing violence and repression in IIOJK. According to Wani, these misleading claims of development are being used by India to distract from the ongoing atrocities committed in IIOJK.

Wani also noted that India regularly shifts the blame to Pakistan to deflect attention from its own failures and human rights violations in IIOJK. He criticized Indian diplomats for making misleading statements at international forums to justify their actions and to avoid scrutiny over the worsening situation in the region.

He urged the international community to remember that India has stripped Kashmiris of their right to self-determination and has subjected them to brutal repression in a bid to silence their voices. Wani emphasized that true peace and stability in the region can only be achieved through the recognition of Kashmiri rights and an end to India’s military occupation.

Wani’s remarks come at a time when the Indian ambassador has once again attempted to deflect accusations of human rights violations in IIOJK during a United Nations Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva. The ambassador’s claims of baseless allegations against India were quickly rejected by Wani, who reiterated that India’s actions in IIOJK are both illegal and unjust.