IIOJK’s 75-year dark night lengthens shadows

As Pakistan observes Youm-e-Istehsal (Exploitation Day) on Monday (today), to mark the fifth anniversary of India revoking Kashmir’s special autonomy and to show solidarity with Kashmiris, the region’s dark night of suffering continues unabated.

For 75 years, the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) have faced relentless oppression and illegal occupation by Indian forces. The situation took a nosedive on August 5, 2019, when the Indian government revoked Kashmir’s special status, an act fiercely rejected by the local population.

Since 1989, the conflict has claimed the lives of 96,320 civilians. Over 171,000 Kashmiris have been unlawfully detained by Indian authorities.

The brutality extends to the families, with 22,974 women losing their husbands to violence, and 11,264 women subjected to sexual assault by Indian military and police personnel.

From August 2019 to the present, 887 more individuals have been killed, and nearly 25,000 arrested without due process. During this period, around 19,000 illegal raids have been conducted, and 1,300 pro-freedom government employees have been wrongfully dismissed from their jobs.