Pakistan strongly criticized the Indian government’s decision to designate two organizations in Indian-occupied Kashmir as “unlawful associations,” according to a statement issued by the Foreign Office on Wednesday.
The Indian Ministry of Home Affairs had earlier declared the Jammu and Kashmir Awami Action Committee (AAC), led by prominent Kashmiri cleric and Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, and the Jammu and Kashmir Ittihadul Muslimeen (JKIM), previously headed by Maulana Mohammad Abbas Ansari, as “unlawful associations” for a period of five years, as reported by *The Hindu*.
This move follows a similar pattern from last year, when Indian authorities banned several political parties in the region, bringing the total number of outlawed groups to 14. Pakistan had also condemned those actions at the time.
In its latest statement, the Foreign Office expressed strong disapproval of the recent decision, which has now increased the number of banned Kashmiri political parties and organizations to 16.
“Pakistan denounces the Indian authorities’ decision to declare the AAC and JKIM as ‘unlawful associations’ for five years,” the statement read. It highlighted that the AAC is led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, a respected political and religious figure, while the JKIM was founded by Maulana Mohammad Abbas Ansari, a notable leader who headed the organization until his passing in 2022.
The Foreign Office described the ban as another example of India’s heavy-handed approach in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), aimed at suppressing political activities and silencing dissent.
“This decision reflects a blatant disregard for democratic principles and international human rights law,” the statement added.
Pakistan called on the Indian government to lift restrictions on Kashmiri political parties, release all political prisoners, and adhere to United Nations Security Council resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir.
The statement also referenced recent remarks by India’s External Affairs Minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, regarding Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), which Pakistan dismissed as “baseless claims.” Pakistan reiterated its demand for India to vacate the occupied territories of Kashmir.
Earlier in September 2023, Indian authorities had released Mirwaiz Umar Farooq after more than four years of house arrest. The 50-year-old leader was detained in 2019, along with other political figures and thousands of residents, following the revocation of Kashmir’s semi-autonomous status and the imposition of direct federal rule by the Indian government.
Pakistan’s statement underscores its ongoing concern over India’s actions in the region and its commitment to advocating for the rights of the Kashmiri people.
