Pakistan Condemns India’s Ban on Kashmiri Organizations
Pakistan has strongly criticized India’s decision to designate two prominent organizations in Indian-occupied Kashmir as “unlawful associations” for five years, calling it an attempt to suppress political dissent in the region.
The two banned organizations include the Awami Action Committee (AAC), led by prominent Kashmiri leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, and the Jammu and Kashmir Ittehadul Muslimeen (JKIM), previously headed by the late Maulana Mohammad Abbas Ansari until his passing in 2022.
With this move, the total number of banned political parties and organizations in the region has now risen to 16.
Pakistan’s Response
In an official statement, Pakistan denounced the bans, emphasizing that both organizations have played significant roles in the political and religious landscape of Kashmir. The statement further accused India of suppressing political activities and stifling dissent, violating democratic values and international human rights norms.
Additionally, Pakistan reiterated its rejection of recent remarks made by India’s Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar regarding Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). Jaishankar had referred to AJK as a “stolen part of Kashmir” and alleged it was under “illegal Pakistani occupation.”
Pakistan views these developments as part of a broader effort by India to tighten its grip on the region by curbing political voices. The diplomatic tensions between the two countries continue to escalate, with Kashmir remaining a core point of contention.
