Restrictions have been significantly tightened across Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in Srinagar, ahead of the five-day assembly session beginning. According to Kashmir Media Service, IIOJK, one of the most militarized areas globally, has seen additional layers of security imposed around the assembly complex, where a three-tier security system has been established. Authorities have intensified cordon and search operations, leading to the arrest of several youths, citing an “increase in militant activities.” An official confirmed that the Indian army, police, and paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have set up checkpoints across Srinagar and other key areas. Vehicles are being rigorously checked, and frisking is recorded on camera for “maximum vigilance,” with personnel rotated every few hours to maintain tight control.

The heavy presence of Indian troops across IIOJK has, over decades, transformed the territory into what residents describe as an open-air prison. Since the entry of Indian forces into Srinagar on October 27, 1947, the ongoing military siege has led to a deepening humanitarian crisis. Today, over one million Indian troops are deployed across IIOJK in a bid to suppress the Kashmiri population, a situation worsened since India’s revocation of Kashmir’s special status on August 5, 2019. KMS-1K Despite the militarization, the people of Kashmir continue their peaceful struggle for self-determination, underscoring that India’s overwhelming military presence cannot alter the region’s disputed status. The international community’s continued indifference to the plight of Kashmiris raises questions about how long this brutal militarization will be allowed to persist.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan