Senior Kashmiri leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has said that the recent Pahalgam incident has once again exposed how the people of Kashmir are made to suffer the most, as India continues its policy of collective punishment, repression, and scapegoating in the region.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Mirwaiz condemned the incident but strongly criticized the Indian authorities for using it as a pretext to intensify crackdowns across Indian-occupied Kashmir. “Despite condemning the violence, it is the innocent Kashmiris who are being persecuted. Thousands have been detained in mass arrests, homes are being blown up with explosives, and entire families are being rendered homeless,” he said.
Mirwaiz said India’s response was not only excessive and disproportionate but also indicative of a broader pattern of state oppression in Kashmir. “Time and again, it is Kashmiris who pay the ultimate price for incidents they have no role in. This cycle of violence and punishment must end.”
He also condemned the role of Indian mainstream media, accusing it of vilifying the Kashmiri population and fueling hatred through misinformation and propaganda. “Indian media continues to defame and dehumanize Kashmiris, deepening the suffering of a people already under siege,” he added.
Mirwaiz further stated that the mass expulsions following the incident had displaced hundreds and fractured numerous families, aggravating the humanitarian crisis in the region.
Tensions have escalated further between India and Pakistan following the killing of 26 Indian tourists in Pahalgam, with New Delhi exploiting the tragedy to justify its crackdown in the occupied territory.
