India Asks Global Community to Hold Pakistan Accountable for POJK Atrocities

New Delhi: India has urged the international community to scrutinise Pakistan's actions in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK) and hold its establishment accountable for alleged atrocities against civilians. The appeal was made by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) after a crackdown that reportedly resulted in the deaths of over 40 civilians and injuries to many more.

In a statement, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the recent "so-called elections" in POJK were effectively a rejection of Pakistan's establishment by the local population. He accused Pakistan of using "ruthless force" against peaceful civilians in the region, adding that the people have requested international organisations to conduct an independent investigation into the unlawful killings.

"The Pakistani establishment continues to unleash ruthless force against peaceful civilians in POJK," Jaiswal said. He noted that Pakistan's defence minister had branded protesting civilians as enemies, exposing the state's disdain for the people of POJK. Jaiswal also referred to an admission by Pakistan's Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs that the "mujahideen" trained, armed and sent by Pakistan to fight India have now turned their guns inward, weaponising themselves against the state itself.

The MEA's statement comes ahead of the upcoming United Nations General Assembly session, where such issues are likely to be raised by both India and Pakistan. India has consistently maintained that the entire region of Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of its territory, and it rejects Pakistan's administrative control over POJK. The area has been under Pakistani control since the first India-Pakistan war in 1947-48, and India has repeatedly called for the return of the region to Indian administration.

The term POJK is used by India to describe the portion of the erstwhile princely state of Jammu and Kashmir administered by Pakistan. Many countries refer to the region as "Pakistan-administered Kashmir" in neutral diplomatic language. India has also supported the right to self-determination of the people of the region, a stance reflected in various UN resolutions.

Pakistan has not yet responded to India's latest statement. The two nuclear-armed neighbours have a long-standing dispute over Kashmir, which has been a major flashpoint in their bilateral relations. Diplomatic gestures and ceasefire agreements have been attempted over the years, but mutual distrust remains high. This latest diplomatic move by India is seen as an attempt to keep pressure on Pakistan at international forums, particularly in light of the reported civilian unrest in POJK.

Observers note that such statements are part of India's consistent strategy to highlight human rights issues in POJK on global platforms. However, without broader international action, the impact of such appeals often remains symbolic. The situation in POJK has drawn intermittent attention from human rights groups, though access for independent observers remains limited.