The United Kashmir People’s National Party (UKPNP) has expressed deep concern about the severe human rights crisis unfolding in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The party’s spokesperson, Sardar Nasir Aziz Khan, revealed that Pakistani paramilitary forces have used advanced tactical drones and live ammunition against unarmed civilians, resulting in more than 24 deaths and numerous life-altering injuries. The UKPNP, in collaboration with the Swiss Kashmir Human Rights Commission (SKHRC), has urgently appealed to the UN Secretary-General and the UN Human Rights Council, exposing the harsh crackdown by Pakistani authorities on peaceful residents.
The spokesperson accused Pakistani forces of imposing a blackout on mobile networks and internet services in PoK, along with blockading regional borders, leading to shortages of essential supplies like food, wheat flour, and medical aid. Khan highlighted the heavy presence of paramilitary forces in local hospitals, causing injured civilians to fear seeking necessary medical treatment due to the risk of arbitrary arrest. The UKPNP and SKHRC have called for an immediate independent UN Fact-Finding Mission to investigate the alleged extrajudicial killings and to lift the illegal blockade in PoK, emphasizing the need for global intervention to address the situation.
The UKPNP strongly condemned the ongoing siege, communication blackout, and physical blockade in PoK, warning that millions of Kashmiris are at risk due to the halt in supplies of food, medicine, and other essential items. The party criticized the federal government of Pakistan for preventing federal and Senate opposition leaders from entering PoK and urged the international community to act swiftly to safeguard the lives of Kashmiris in the region. The UKPNP demanded that Pakistani authorities allow unrestricted access to the UN, international observers, human rights organizations, and the global media to visit affected areas and ensure that those responsible for human rights violations are held accountable.
