Kashmir is the world’s most militarized zone, with an estimated 700,000 to 900,000 Indian soldiers, paramilitary forces, and private security forces present. Since 1989, the Indian army and paramilitary forces have engaged in a deliberate campaign of state terrorism against Muslim Kashmiris, using various methods.
It has been manifested in brutal tactics like crackdown, curfew, illegal detention, massacre, target killing, siege burning the houses, torture, disappearances, rape, women, and killing of persons through fake encounters.
According to human rights activists, more than 8,000 persons have gone missing in Kashmir since 1989. Over the past more than three decades of turmoil in Kashmir, thousands of civilians have gone missing in the custody of security forces. Although the bodies of some were found, most remain untraced.
Both India and Pakistan claim ownership of the Kashmir area, which has contributed to the escalation of tensions between the two countries in this region over the last few decades. Violence and human rights violations, including a recurring pattern of extrajudicial executions, have characterized the situation in the region. These killings have been carried out without following due process and are essentially state-sanctioned murders.
Abdul Rasheed, a young man from Kashmir, was recently kidnapped and murdered by the Indian occupation forces. He was a victim of the latest atrocity in a region where killing people without due process of law is becoming increasingly common.
The Indian army arrested Rasheed on suspicion of being a member of a militant group. However, his family maintains that he was innocent and had no ties to any militant organizations. The Indian army has a long history of kidnapping and murdering innocent Kashmiri people, often on the pretense that they were involved in terrorist activity.
Rasheed’s case is just one example of the human rights abuses that the Indian occupation forces in Kashmir have committed.
The government of Kashmir and the human rights activists in the region have both reacted with shock and condemnation to the situation. In a tweet, Mehbooba Mufti, who had previously served as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, said, “The murder of Abdul Rasheed is just another example of the cruelty that the Indian occupation has brought. After 2019, these kinds of occurrences have become routine since no one is held accountable for their occurrence. Probes & investigations fail to nail criminals & achieve justice.”
In Kashmir, the problem of murders that do not follow established legal procedures is not new and has been a big concern for many years. From the beginning of the war, there have been thousands of extrajudicial executions in the area, according to the reports of groups that advocate for human rights. It has been said that the Indian military targets innocent young men and women, frequently falsely accusing them of involvement in terrorist activities and then killing them in simulated gun battles.
According to Kashmir Media services, HR Violations in IIOJK include:
| (From Jan 1989 till 30 Jun 2023) | |
| Total Killings | 96,213 |
| Custodial killings | 7,297 |
| Civilian arrested | 168,009 |
| Structures Arsoned/Destroyed | 110,500 |
| Women Widowed | 22,960 |
| Children Orphaned | 1,07,903 |
| Women gang-raped / Molested | 11,259 |
These random executions have devasted the community, with families being left to mourn the death of their loved ones and with no avenue for justice being available to them. A culture of dread and distrust has developed in the area due to people’s concerns about being targeted by the Indian army.
The absence of accountability and justice in Kashmir is one of the most significant problems caused by extrajudicial executions in that region. The lack of accountability for human rights abuses in Kashmir has created a culture of impunity among security forces. This has led to several abuses, including extrajudicial killings, torture, and the destruction of property. The Indian government must take steps to end this culture of impunity.
The Indian government has been criticized for failing to address the problem of extrajudicial executions in Kashmir. The government has also been criticized for failing to deliver justice to the victims and the families of those killed. As a result of the government’s inaction, the human rights situation in Kashmir has deteriorated.
The problem of extrajudicial executions in Kashmir has not gone unnoticed by the international community. Human rights groups and the United Nations have condemned the Indian army’s actions, and the UN has called for an inquiry into the state of human rights in the region. India has been urged to take action to remedy the problem.
The international community has brought attention to the fact that there is a pressing need for more pressure to be applied to India to resolve violations of human rights in Kashmir. The topic has been brought up in several international venues, and India is coming under increasing pressure to address the problem of extrajudicial murders and other violations of human rights in the area.
The demonstration held at the United Nations Headquarters in Geneva was a powerful protest against the human rights violations taking place in India. The protest featured various activities, including standees, 4D view tents, posters, and banners, all highlighting the concerns of minority rights and women’s rights in India. The protest successfully brought these critical issues to light and raised awareness of the need for action.
The human rights crisis in Kashmir is a major concern that requires immediate attention and action. The lack of accountability for extrajudicial killings has created a culture of impunity, leading to further human rights violations. The victims and their families deserve justice, and the international community must pressure the Indian government to take action to end this crisis.
*The author is a Correspondent and Researcher at Global Affairs. He is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations at National Defense University. He can be reached at Wasamakhalid@gmail.com
**The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not reflect the views or position of The Diplomatic Insight. The organization neither endorses nor takes responsibility for the content of this article and its accuracy.
