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.
By Muhammad Saqlain Bilal
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.