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India Faces Global Condemnation Over Enforced Disappearances in Kashmir

Islamabad: International experts and human rights advocates have condemned India’s alleged use of enforced disappearances in the Indian-administered region of Jammu and Kashmir. The practice, which they have termed a crime against humanity, has drawn widespread criticism and calls for accountability.

According to a statement by Kashmir Media Service, the World Congress on Enforced Disappearances convened on January 15-16 in Geneva. The event marked a significant step in the global effort to combat this serious human rights violation. Enforced disappearances in the region have been a longstanding issue, with reports indicating that over 10,000 individuals have gone missing while in Indian custody since 1989.

Human rights organizations, including the Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS) and the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP), have been at the forefront of documenting these disappearances. Led by key figures such as Pervez Imroz and Parveena Ahangar, these groups face severe mobility restrictions, which activists claim are attempts to silence dissent.

Notably, investigations by the International People’s Tribunal on Human Rights and Justice in Jammu and Kashmir have uncovered over 2,900 bodies in mass graves. The majority of these were identified as Kashmiri civilians, challenging India’s claim that the graves contained foreign militants.

Draconian laws like the Armed Forces Special Powers Act and the Public Safety Act reportedly provide security forces with immunity, leading to a culture of impunity. Families of the disappeared, particularly women, suffer substantial psychological, social, and economic hardships. It is estimated that over 200,000 relatives continue to seek information about their missing loved ones.

The international community has called on India to ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. Despite global appeals, India has yet to take this step, prompting renewed demands for an independent inquiry into the disappearances and unmarked mass graves in Kashmir.

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