APHC Slams India’s Oppression in IIOJK: “An Open Prison under Military Rule”

The All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) has denounced India’s draconian actions in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), describing the region as a militarized prison. In a scathing statement issued from Srinagar, APHC spokesperson Advocate Abdul Rashid Minhas accused India of transforming the once-thriving region into a desolate colony, suffocated under authoritarian rule.

Since the unilateral abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019, IIOJK has been subjected to relentless state oppression, with basic rights stripped from its people. “India has not only failed to address the Kashmir dispute but has actively deprived the people of their fundamental rights,” Minhas declared, lambasting New Delhi’s complete disregard for justice and human dignity.

The APHC likened IIOJK to an open-air prison, where the Indian military’s pervasive presence has turned towns and villages into fortified garrisons. This militarization, coupled with an iron-fisted governance model, has erased any semblance of normalcy in the region.

Condemning India’s colonial-style administration, Minhas stated, “IIOJK is being treated like a colony, exploited for its resources and strategically oppressed to suppress dissent.” The remarks highlight how policies enforced by the Modi government have further marginalized Kashmiris, intensifying their economic, social, and political hardships.

The APHC has called upon the international community, particularly the United Nations, to take urgent action. “The unresolved Kashmir dispute is a glaring stain on the global conscience. The world must not continue to turn a blind eye to India’s atrocities,” Minhas asserted.

Pointing to the long-standing UN resolutions on Kashmir, the spokesperson urged global powers to intervene and press India to honor its commitments. The APHC emphasized that without adherence to these resolutions, peace in South Asia remains a distant dream.

The APHC’s statement comes amid an escalating crackdown in IIOJK, with intensified raids, arrests, and suppression of civil liberties. New Delhi’s policies appear calculated to erase Kashmir’s unique identity, stoke fear, and consolidate control through militarization.

By treating the region as a strategic pawn, India has not only alienated its people but has also showcased a blatant disregard for democratic norms. The APHC’s call for action underscores the urgency of the crisis and the growing frustration among Kashmiris, who see international silence as complicity.

This bold condemnation from the APHC serves as a reminder of the enduring struggle for justice in IIOJK, a region yearning for liberation from decades of Indian occupation.