A Jammu-based organization representing displaced individuals from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) has formally appealed to the United Nations, calling for international intervention to address alleged human rights violations and repression by Pakistani authorities against residents across the border. The POJK (Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir) Visthapit Seva Samiti, through its chairman Deepak Kapoor, voiced strong condemnation of recent killings of civilians by Pakistani forces and expressed profound solidarity with the affected families.
Kapoor, a medical professional, articulated the plight of PoK residents, stating that they are enduring oppression and violations of their fundamental rights at the hands of Pakistani military and administrative elements. He drew a parallel between the current suffering in PoK and the historical displacement and hardships experienced by their own communities, who were uprooted from the region decades ago. The displaced community, he affirmed, stands in unwavering support of the residents of PoJK, backing their demands for dignity, basic rights, and improved living conditions.
Information reaching TahirRihat.com suggests that Kapoor detailed how peaceful protests and demonstrations initiated by PoK residents, seeking essential facilities, enhanced educational opportunities, and greater political representation, have been met with severe countermeasures from the Pakistan Army and its administration. He implored the global community, with a particular emphasis on the United Nations, to acknowledge the gravity of the situation and to approach the issue from a purely humanitarian standpoint. He urged the UN and other international human rights organizations to thoroughly investigate the prevailing conditions in the region and to actively work towards safeguarding the fundamental rights of the people residing across the border.
Furthermore, Kapoor claimed that a growing number of residents within PoK are expressing a desire to disassociate from Pakistan. He indicated that these individuals are increasingly looking towards India, reportedly influenced by the nation’s developmental progress, its robust democratic institutions, and its commitment to freedom of expression. A discernible sentiment is emerging from the region, suggesting that many inhabitants no longer wish to remain under Pakistani rule and would prefer to be integrated with India. This sentiment, he believes, warrants serious consideration by the international community.
In addition to his appeal to the UN, Kapoor also addressed the central government in India, urging it to take into account the escalating voices from PoK that advocate for closer ties and integration with India. He reiterated the long-standing position that Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, along with other territories under Pakistani control, constitutes an inalienable part of the erstwhile princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, which acceded to India on October 26, 1947. The ultimate aspiration, he stated, is for the displaced communities to be able to return to their ancestral homes and for the current inhabitants of these regions to be liberated from the hardships they currently face. The organization’s appeal underscores a complex geopolitical and humanitarian issue, highlighting the ongoing concerns of those displaced and those living under perceived repression across the Line of Control.
Tahir Rihat (also known as Tahir Bilal) is an independent journalist, activist, and digital media professional from the Chenab Valley of Jammu and Kashmir, India. He is best known for his work as the Online Editor at The Chenab Times.
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