- Advertisement -
ISLAMABAD, Nov 11 (APP):Chairman of the Kashmir Institute of International Relations (KIIR), Altaf Hussain Wani, has made a passionate appeal to UN human rights experts and mandate holders, urging urgent action to halt the ongoing detention spree and unlawful surveillance in Indian occupied territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
In his letter to Mr. Ben Saul, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights while countering terrorism, Wani highlighted a renewed wave of arbitrary detentions, illegal mobile surveillance, and intensified military operations, creating a pervasive climate of fear and repression.
“Amidst this escalating state repression, the people of Jammu and Kashmir are forced to live under a relentless climate of fear and intimidation,” Wani said.
He added that cordon-and-search operations (CASOs), arbitrary arrests—particularly of youth—and illegal detentions have left families traumatized and insecure.
“Since the Pahalgam incident, nearly 3,000 Kashmiris, including journalists and activists, have been detained under draconian laws such as the UAPA and PSA”, he added.
Wani cited 244 military operations, resulting in killings, arrests of youth including doctors, and the illegal attachment of civilian properties, illustrating the use of collective punishment.
He condemned the ongoing mobile surveillance as a breach of international law and an assault on the right to privacy.
Wani also criticized recent orders mandating CCTV installation in Jammu’s shops and businesses, stating that it constitutes: Arbitrary interference with privacy (Article 17, ICCPR), an indirect restriction on freedom of expression (Article 19, ICCPR), and an abuse of administrative authority violating principles of legality and proportionality.
“While freedom of expression and journalism already stand criminalised, the Indian authorities now appear determined to extend repression to the medical profession, targeting practitioners under fabricated pretexts,” he said.
Wani expressed gratitude to twelve UN human rights experts for their communication “AL IND 8/2025”, which alerted India to systemic human rights violations and unlawful demolitions. However, he noted:
“India continues to misuse counter-terrorism laws to target Kashmiris and other Muslim communities. Despite repeated UN appeals, the government has neither cooperated nor permitted independent investigations.”
He warned that global inaction has emboldened the authorities to continue suppressing dissent, criminalising civic life, and expanding surveillance.
Wani urged the United Nations and other mandate holders to launch an independent investigation and hold India accountable for crimes against humanity in Kashmir:
“The Kashmiri people continue to pay a heavy price for this indifference. The world must urgently intervene to protect their safety, rights, and dignity”, he concluded.