State-Sponsored Violence Defines ‘Normalcy’ in IIOJK

Recent evidence has exposed the stark reality of human rights violations by Indian security forces in Indian Kashmir torture reportsIllegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). Despite India’s ongoing claims of normalcy and peace, the situation on the ground paints a grim picture of state-sponsored terror, widespread abuses, and extrajudicial killings.

Indian security forces are reportedly engaged in brutal tactics, including enforced disappearances, arbitrary killings, and physical assaults on civilians. These operations often take place under the guise of counterinsurgency measures, but in reality, they target the region’s Muslim population, especially young men. The military has been conducting cordon-and-search operations, which involve detaining individuals without cause, subjecting families to violence, and executing people extrajudicially, all while claiming to fight terrorism.

The violence has escalated in border districts, where Indian forces have intensified operations, making it clear that these measures are not merely security actions but punitive measures aimed at a specific religious and ethnic group. Despite repeated allegations of torture and sexual violence by security personnel, the Indian government has failed to acknowledge the scale of these abuses. Torture methods employed include brutal beatings, waterboarding, and the use of electric shocks. Sexual violence against women during military operations is also rampant, though survivors often fear seeking justice due to the stigma and retribution they may face.

The human rights situation in IIOJK is further exacerbated by the region’s ineffective judicial system. Victims of these violations rarely see justice, as military and security forces operate with impunity under draconian laws that shield them from accountability. The consistent use of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances is a glaring example of this lack of accountability. Despite hundreds of documented cases of disappearances, the Indian government has failed to take any meaningful action to address these grave violations.

International human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, have condemned these actions, urging global powers to take a stand. Pakistan, which has consistently presented irrefutable evidence of these violations to the United Nations, calls for greater accountability. Pakistan also advocates for international investigations into these abuses and a resolution to the Kashmir conflict in accordance with United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions, with a focus on the rights of the Kashmiri people.

The human rights violations in IIOJK highlight the urgent need for global intervention to ensure justice and peace in the region. The continued violence and repression not only undermine Kashmiri aspirations for self-determination but also threaten regional stability and peace. The international community must hold India accountable for its actions and support the Kashmiris in their struggle for justice.