DFP Urges Pakistan Delegation in U.S. to Advocate for Release of Kashmiri Detainees

As global calls for justice in IIOJK grow louder, the Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) has made an urgent appeal to Pakistan’s leadership to spotlight the plight of Kashmiri political prisoners during their high-level meetings in the United States.

The Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) has called on the Pakistani delegation visiting the United States to launch a strong and strategic diplomatic campaign to push for the release of Kashmiri political detainees held in Indian jails and in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

In a letter to Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and head of the delegation, DFP Acting Chairman Mehmood Ahmed Saghar drew attention to the ongoing illegal detention of thousands of Kashmiris. These arrests, he said, began well before and escalated dramatically after August 5, 2019—the day India revoked Article 370, stripping Jammu and Kashmir of its special status.

According to Saghar, between 5,000 and 15,000 Kashmiris have been arbitrarily detained under harsh and widely criticized laws. Among those imprisoned are minors, women, the elderly, and individuals suffering from serious health issues, all denied proper legal rights and medical care.

The letter outlined the systemic repression faced by political and human rights activists in Kashmir over the decades. Indian authorities, it stated, have employed aggressive tactics such as raids, surveillance, torture, and prolonged detentions to stifle dissent. These actions, Saghar added, are part of a calculated campaign to silence opposition and curb civic activism in the region.

He detailed severe conditions faced by detainees, including solitary confinement, denial of legal representation, poor access to medical facilities, and restrictions on family visits. Cases of physical abuse, sexual harassment, and psychological torture further underline the dire human rights situation.

The letter also named key political figures still behind bars, including Shabir Ahmed Shah, Muhammad Yasin Malik, Massarat Aalam Bhat, and Asiya Andrabi. All have been imprisoned in high-security facilities like Tihar Jail, where they continue to face harsh treatment for advocating Kashmir’s right to self-determination.

Saghar expressed grave concern that the Indian judiciary is increasingly being used by the BJP-led government as a political tool to suppress dissent and eliminate resistance to its Kashmir policy. He stressed that at a time when the international community is beginning to demand inclusive dialogue on Kashmir, the voices of Kashmiri leaders must not be silenced behind prison walls.

He urged the Pakistani delegation to raise the issue of these unlawful detentions during their interactions with U.S. officials. He emphasized that advocating for the immediate release of these political prisoners would be a critical step toward meaningful dialogue and lasting peace in the region.