GENEVA: A group of UN experts on Tuesday raised serious concerns over human rights violations committed by Indian authorities after the 22 April 2025 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, located in Indian-Administered Kashmir, which left 54 people dead.
The experts strongly condemned the “brutal terrorist attack” in the tourist area and expressed condolences to the victims, their families. They stressed, however, that counter-terrorism efforts must still comply with international human rights law.
In the aftermath of the attack, large-scale security operations were launched across Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), leading to the arrest of around 2,800 people, including journalists and human rights defenders. Many were detained under the Public Safety Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, laws that allow extended detention without charge or trial and rely on broad and vague definitions of terrorism. Reports also indicated that some detainees were tortured, held incommunicado, and denied access to legal counsel and family members.
The experts criticised reports of arbitrary arrests and detentions, custodial deaths, torture, lynchings, and discriminatory treatment targeting Kashmiri and Muslim communities.
They also pointed to accounts of punitive home demolitions, forced evictions, and arbitrary displacement of families believed to have links to militants, actions allegedly taken without court orders or due process. They noted that such measures amount to collective punishment and directly contradict a 2024 ruling by India’s Supreme Court, which declared such demolitions unconstitutional and a violation of the right to life, dignity, and protection from arbitrary displacement.
Further concerns were raised over communication restrictions and limits on press freedom. Authorities were said to have suspended mobile internet services and blocked nearly 8,000 social media accounts, including those belonging to journalists and independent media organisations. According to the experts, these steps impose disproportionate restrictions on freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association.
The impact of India’s response was also observed in other parts of the country. Kashmiri students reportedly faced surveillance and harassment after government directives instructed universities to collect their personal information. Hate speech and incitement to violence against Muslims also rose, fuelled by remarks made by political figures in the ruling party. Demolition drives in Gujarat and Assam reportedly resulted in thousands of Muslim homes, mosques, and businesses being destroyed.
Additionally, nearly 1,900 Muslims and Rohingya refugees were expelled to Bangladesh and Myanmar, often without due process. The experts emphasised that such expulsions breach the international principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning individuals to countries where they could face persecution, torture, or other serious harm.
Highlighting the ongoing nature of rights abuses in Jammu and Kashmir, the experts noted that several human rights defenders — including Irfan Mehraj and Khurram Parvez — have been arbitrarily detained for years under stringent security laws. They called for the immediate and unconditional release of all individuals held arbitrarily in the region.
The experts urged the Indian government to align its counter-terrorism measures with international human rights standards, conduct independent investigations into all reported violations, and ensure accountability through prosecutions where necessary.
They warned that excessive counter-terrorism actions undermine human dignity, violate India’s own Constitution and international obligations, and risk escalating social tensions that could lead to further violence.
The experts also encouraged both India and Pakistan to work toward a peaceful resolution of the decades-old Kashmir dispute, which continues to fuel human rights abuses and cross-border tensions.
