Kashmiri Children: Victims of Decades-Long Conflict and Indian State Violence

As the world observes the International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression, the silent suffering of Kashmiri children under decades of conflict demands global attention and urgent action.

Over the past 37 years, the ongoing conflict in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir has left a devastating impact on children, with 930 minors reportedly killed by Indian forces. This grim figure reflects just a fraction of the broader toll that continuous violence has taken on young lives in the region.

Marking the International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression, reports highlight that among the nearly 96,500 Kashmiris killed since January 1989, hundreds were children. In addition to these tragic deaths, over 107,000 children have been left orphaned after losing their parents to violence, many in encounters described by local groups as staged or custodial killings.

The use of excessive force during public demonstrations and search operations has injured thousands of civilians, including school-aged children. Tear gas shells, bullets, and pellet guns have caused life-altering injuries, with hundreds of young boys and girls suffering permanent vision loss. Since 2010, the use of pellet and PAVA shells by Indian forces has become a symbol of the physical and psychological trauma endured by IIOJK’s youth.

Mental health experts and child rights advocates warn of the deep psychological scars inflicted on children who grow up in this environment. Daily life for many Kashmiri children includes witnessing violent raids, detentions of family members, and routine security crackdowns in their neighborhoods. This exposure to trauma during their formative years has long-lasting effects on their emotional well-being and development.

In many cases, teenagers—especially boys under the age of 19—have been detained under harsh laws without due process. These black laws, often criticized by international watchdogs, have led to the imprisonment of minors both in IIOJK and in jails across India. Reports also suggest that many of these children face mistreatment while in custody.

A significant number of children have also lost their lives during cordon-and-search operations and alleged fake encounters. These operations, typically conducted under the guise of national security, have drawn criticism for their disproportionate use of force and lack of accountability.

Advocate Abdul Rashid Minhas, a spokesperson for the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), expressed grave concern over the continued abuse of children in the region. He appealed to international organizations including the United Nations, the OIC, the European Union, and global child rights groups to intervene and protect Kashmiri children from state-backed violence. According to him, using children as tools of war and instruments of pressure reflects a systematic strategy to break the spirit of the local population.

The international community, he urged, must act not only to stop the violence but also to resolve the Kashmir issue in accordance with UN resolutions and the will of its people. On this international day, the world must not turn a blind eye to the ongoing suffering of Kashmiri children.