Former President of AJK, Critiques India’s Hindutva Policies in IIOJK

As India’s policies in IIOJK evolve, Pakistan remains steadfast in its support for the Kashmiri people, with experts urging stronger international actions to address India’s demographic and political engineering in the region.

In a recent roundtable discussion hosted by the Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS) in Islamabad, Pakistan, former President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Masood Khan, critically addressed India’s revocation of Article 370 and the subsequent demographic changes in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). He argued that these actions are part of a broader Indian strategy aimed at marginalizing minorities while advancing its hegemonic agenda in South Asia.

Khan, a former diplomat with extensive experience serving as ambassador to Beijing and Washington, as well as Pakistan’s representative to the United Nations, elaborated on how the Hindutva ideology, spearheaded by India’s ruling government, goes beyond IIOJK. He pointed out that the Indian government is pursuing the ‘saffronization’ of the entire subcontinent, a concept that seeks to promote Hindu nationalism at the cost of religious and ethnic minorities.

He further cited the installation of the Akhand Bharat map in India’s Parliament in 2023 as a clear example of India’s expansionist ambitions, suggesting that these actions reflect an aggressive push for territorial and ideological dominance in the region. Khan stressed the need for Pakistan to maintain strategic deterrence and resist external pressures, emphasizing that certain national security red lines must remain non-negotiable.

Dr. Mohammad Mujeeb Afzal, an associate professor at Quaid-i-Azam University, also weighed in on the discussion, challenging India’s self-proclaimed secular identity. He argued that India’s governance structures, particularly since 1947, have selectively applied secularism while systematically marginalizing its Muslim minority.

Afzal noted that Muslims in India face institutional discrimination across various sectors, including politics, employment, and public life, reinforcing societal biases. He further argued that communal violence and religious polarization have been politically weaponized to secure electoral victories, contributing to the erosion of India’s secular fabric.

He pointed out the transformation of Hindu nationalism, from a political movement to a pervasive cultural force that pressures minorities to conform to dominant Hindu narratives. This shift, he argued, extends beyond politics into cultural and religious life, affecting everything from dress codes to religious expression.

Afzal also highlighted legislative measures like the Citizenship Amendment Act and the abrogation of Article 370 as part of a broader effort to reshape Indian democracy along communal lines. These actions, he stated, have deepened the exclusion of Muslims and restricted their political participation, further exacerbating the divide between the Hindu-majority and Muslim-minority communities.

Dr. Afzal’s remarks were complemented by a comparison from a panelist named Mir, who likened India’s actions in IIOJK to Israel’s policies. He pointed out that India’s demographic changes in IIOJK are in direct violation of United Nations resolutions. To counter these moves, he suggested that Pakistan intensify its diplomatic efforts, engage more actively with international organizations, initiate legal actions, build alliances with like-minded nations, and highlight ongoing human rights violations.

In the conclusion of the discussion, Ambassador Ali Sarwar Naqvi, executive director of CISS, underscored the need for international pressure to bring occupying states like India to the negotiation table. He emphasized that Kashmir is not an internal matter for India, but an internationally recognized dispute that requires a peaceful and just resolution.

Naqvi reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to providing diplomatic, political, and moral support to the Kashmiri people in their ongoing struggle for freedom. He also urged the international community to go beyond issuing statements and take concrete actions to address the situation.