Kashmiri widows and half-widows continue to endure misery
#WidowsOfKashmirConflict#StandWithKashmiriWomen
Srinagar: On International Widows Day, Kashmiri widows and half-widows continue to suffer the enduring consequences of the Kashmir conflict as the number of widows and half-widows in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir has risen alarmingly over the past 37 years.
According to a report released by Kashmir Media Service, unending Indian state terrorism has rendered 22,991 Kashmiri women widowed between January 1989 and 31 May 2026. More than 10,000 Kashmiris have disappeared in Indian troops’ custody since 1989, while over 2,000 women in IIOJK are living as half-widows, their husbands having vanished without a trace.
The village of Dardpora in Kupwara district alone has nearly 200 women whose husbands disappeared in Indian troops’ custody.
International Widows Day serves as a reminder of the plight of these Kashmiri widows and half-widows who are still awaiting justice. Years of uncertainty, loss and suffering have left many of them grappling with severe psychological distress.
The large number of widows and half-widows in IIOJK stands as testimony to the brutalities committed by Indian troops in the occupied territory.
The international community must not forget the trauma and hardships endured by Kashmiri widows and half-widows.
