India using false flag ops in IIOJK to malign Kashmiris’ just struggle: Geneva seminar
Geneva,: Speakers at a seminar condemned India’s use of false flag operations in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, describing it as a long-standing tactic to discredit the Kashmiris’ legitimate struggle and justify military crackdowns.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the seminar was organized by the International Action for Peace and Sustainable Development (IAPSD) held on the sidelines of the United Nations Human Rights Council session. The seminar brought together activists, academicians, political leaders, and legal experts from across the globe.
Notable speakers who addressed the event included the Convener of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference Azad Jammu and Kashmir (APHC-AJK) chapter Ghulam Muhammad Safi, former AJK Minister Ch. Pervaiz Ashraf, Altaf Hussain Wani, and Sardar Amjad Yousuf. The panel was moderated by Dr. Saira Shah.
The speakers cited instances such as the abduction of six foreign tourists in 1995, the Chattisinghpora massacre of 2000, the 2019 Pulwama attack, and the recent Pahalgam incident as examples of India’s false-flag operations. They noted with concern that such incidents have been used by the Indian forces to justify harsh crackdowns and to discredit the Kashmiris’ peaceful struggle for right to self-determination.
They pointed out that the 1995 abduction of foreign tourists was used by the Indian state as an instrument to shape global opinion in its favor. “The book—The Meadow: Where the Terror Began—by investigative journalists Adrian Levy and Cathy Scott-Clark provides a detailed account of how the kidnapping was manipulated by Indian authorities to give a communal color to Kashmir’s resistance”, the speakers said.
“Similarly, the Chattisinghpora massacre was used to malign Kashmir’s indigenous struggle and the massacre was orchestrated at a time when then-US President Bill Clinton visited South Asia”, they observed. Later investigations indicated that the brutal killings of Sikhs were carried out by Indian agencies themselves, they said.
The recent attack in Pahalgam was highlighted by speakers as another example of false flag operations that nearly brought India and Pakistan to the brink of full-scale war. Highlighting its impacts on the people of Kashmir, they stated that New Delhi used it to intensify its crackdown in Kashmir. “Instead of launching a credible investigation, authorities conducted arbitrary detentions and carried out collective punishments against Kashmiris”, they remarked.
“Days after the attack, thousands of Kashmiris were arbitrarily detained. Family homes of alleged freedom fighters were demolished as punishment — a trend that violates both constitutional guarantees and international human rights norms,” the speakers stated.
The seminar concluded with a strong call for an independent inquiry into these incidents. “An independent probe is vital not only to establish the truth but also to deter future abuses and ensure accountability for the victims and their families,” the speakers asserted.
“The recent standoff between India and Pakistan, which brought the two nations close to the edge of a disastrous military clash, further underlines the urgency of resolving the long-standing Kashmir dispute”, the speakers said, emphasizing that a just, and peaceful settlement of the Kashmir issue is pivotal for regional peace and stability.
