Editorial: Instead of dismissing talk of freedom, India’s rulers need to listen to voices from occupied Kashmir

Seven years have passed since India stripped occupied Kashmir of its limited autonomy, but discontent remains high in the disputed area. Even supporters of India's policies within the region are unhappy. On Monday, the occupied territory's assembly passed a resolution calling for the restoration of statehood, a move that was previously abolished when India's Article 370 was scrapped in 2019.

The chief minister of the held region, Omar Abdullah, claims that statehood is "our right". However, BJP lawmakers have labeled the resolution as "anti-national".

The problem extends beyond simply restoring the status quo that existed before August 2019. At its core, the issue lies in the Kashmiris' right to self-determination, an issue that India has consistently ignored since the partition of the subcontinent. Unless this fundamental right is recognized and addressed, the problem will persist, with Kashmiris in the occupied territory denied their basic rights.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, speaking at the UN General Assembly, highlighted the long-standing nature of the Kashmir issue, stating that Kashmiris have been waiting "for eight decades" for the UN to fulfill its commitments. He also pointed out the numerous human rights violations committed against the Kashmiri population by India. Similarly, Turkiye's President Recep Erdogan called for a resolution of the Kashmir question at the UNGA, in line with relevant UN resolutions.

The human rights situation in the disputed region is dire. A UN report from November 2025 condemned arbitrary arrests, suspicious deaths in custody, torture, and "discriminatory treatment of Kashmiri and Muslim communities". The wounds inflicted on Kashmir cannot be allowed to fester. Both the common Kashmiri people and even those politicians who are or were close to India, are frustrated under the post-Article 370 regime.

Along with rights abuses, there is also concern over demographic changes in the region, as Kashmiris are becoming a minority in their own land.

A just solution to this dispute lies in India addressing the issue through a trilateral dialogue involving the legitimate representatives of the Kashmiri people and Pakistan. India's rulers might choose to believe the fiction that occupied Kashmir is an 'integral' part of their country, but this approach does nothing to alleviate the dissatisfaction felt by both the common Kashmiri and the political elite of the region.

The dispute has poisoned all chances for normalization in South Asia. Instead of arrogantly dismissing talk of freedom, India's rulers need to listen to the voices from Kashmir and work together with Pakistan towards a just resolution to this long-standing dispute.