Pakistan condemns India’s ban on Kashmiri political groups

Pakistan has strongly criticized India’s decision to declare the Awami Action Committee and Jammu and Kashmir Ittihad-ul-Muslimeen as “unlawful associations” for a period of five years.

The Awami Action Committee is led by prominent political and religious figure Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, while Jammu and Kashmir Ittihad-ul-Muslimeen was founded by Maulana Mohammad Abbas Ansari, who led the group until his passing in 2022.

In a statement, Pakistan’s Foreign Office condemned the move, stating that it brings the total number of banned Kashmiri political organizations to 16. The statement further described the action as an attempt to suppress political activities and silence dissent in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

“This reflects a disregard for democratic norms and international human rights laws,” the Foreign Office said, urging India to lift restrictions on Kashmiri political parties, release political prisoners, and implement UN Security Council resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir.