The Silent Suffering of Kashmiri Women in IOJK

The Kashmir dispute has remained an unresolved conflict since the partition of the Indian subcontinent, disrupting every aspect of life in the region for more than seven decades. However, it is the women of Indian-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJK) who bear the heaviest burden of this violence, a reality that is often overlooked. This is not merely a territorial dispute; it is a humanitarian crisis that affects Kashmiri women in the worst possible ways. With the recent surge in militarization, they face rape, trauma, mental distress, and severe socio-economic oppression. Their voices are further suppressed by the BJP-led regime through draconian laws such as the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), leaving them in a state of perpetual suffering. It is the moral responsibility of every human being to highlight these acts of brutality and be a voice for the women of IOJK, who are systematically silenced and forced to endure relentless oppression.

In IoK the people have been demanding the freedom to choose their fate and become a part of Pakistan. However, the Indian government has been crushing these demands violently and aggressively since the partition of the subcontinent through all means possible. In such conditions, the heinous act of rape is used as a mean to target the women whom the security forces accuse of being helpers of freedom fighters. Raping women, therefore, is an attempt to humiliate the community that is trying to raise its voice against the aggressive Indian military.

The Kunan Poshpora Case is one such example among many thousands. Reports indicate that on the night of February 23, 1991, personnel of the 4 Rajputana Rifles of the Indian Army cordoned off the area of two villages; Kunan and Poshpora, in the North Kashmir’s Kupwara district during an anti-insurgency operation and gang raped at least 23 women, with some estimates placing the number at around 40, the Aljazeera also reported the same incident, estimating the number of victims between 23 and 100. It highlights the gross Human rights violations in IOJK by the so-called “largest democracy in the world” which, by labelling this sheer act of violence as a  counter-terrorism measure, offers systematic impunity to the Indian security forces.

The militarized environment has intensified mental health challenges among the women of Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Kashmir Institute of International Relations (KIIR) reports that between mid-April 2018 and March 2019, a total of 366,906 individuals sought professional psychiatric care at a clinic in Srinagar. Psychiatric disorders have seen a sharp increase among Kashmiris especially in women, which can logically be linked to the rampant rape, molestation, and torture that have become the order of the day in IOJK. Other mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder, panic attacks, general anxiety, and insomnia have also increased considerably, especially since the revocation of article 370.

There are a lot of socio-economic challenges faced by women like educational disparities, economic marginalization, and lack of opportunities for women entrepreneurship. The female literacy rate in Indian-occupied Jammu Kashmir stands at 58.01%, which is quite low and causes a gender gap in education and limiting women’s opportunities for socio-economic advancement, Literacy Rate. KIIR has highlighted the plight of “Half Widows” in IOJK, a term referring to women whose husbands have disappeared due to the ongoing conflict. These women not only endure the emotional loss of a spouse, father, son, or brother but also face severe social stigma and financial instability. KIIR has documented how legal barriers exacerbate their struggles, as Indian law mandates a seven-year period before a missing person can be declared dead, preventing them from accessing property, pensions, or government aid. Furthermore, KIIR has reported on how communication blockades have severely disrupted businesses in the region, worsening the economic hardships faced by these women.

Despite that, Kashmiri women are not just victims; they are also resilient individuals who are fighting for their rights and dignity. The international community must break its silence on this matter, and do more than merely condemning these violations of women’s and Human rights by the Indian government in IOJK. There is also a need for fair investigation into the reports of women and human rights violations.

Muhammad Saqlain Bilal is a student of Government and Public Policy at National Defence University, Islamabad and a research intern at Kashmir Institute of International Relations.

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