APHC Raises Alarm Over Environmental Impact of Amarnath Yatra in Kashmir

Srinagar, The All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) has voiced concerns regarding the environmental consequences of the Amarnath Yatra on the ecosystem of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, calling for urgent international attention to mitigate the impact.

According to Kashmir Media Service, APHC spokesman Advocate Abdul Rashid Minhas detailed the environmental degradation caused by the influx of hundreds of thousands of Hindu pilgrims. The annual pilgrimage is said to contribute to glacier melting, increased flood risks, and pollution. Minhas emphasized the disparity in the treatment of local Muslim and Hindu populations, criticizing the extensive support provided to the pilgrims while local Muslims face restrictions on their religious practices.

Minhas appealed to the international community to influence India to establish stringent regulations on the duration and scale of the Yatra to preserve the region’s environment. The ongoing 52-day pilgrimage, which commenced today, is expected to continue until August 19, posing sustained environmental risks unless addressed.

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