Justice for All Statement on the Pahalgam Attack and Escalating Repression in Indian-Occupied Kashmir

Justice for All mourns the loss of life in the Pahalgam attack on April 22, 2025, which claimed the lives of 28 individuals, including tourists and locals. This act is a stark reminder of the volatility and ongoing suffering in Indian-occupied Kashmir, a region plagued by decades of occupation, militarization, and systemic oppression.

While the attack itself is tragic, the subsequent actions by Indian authorities have exposed an entrenched pattern of collective punishment and disregard for human rights. Over the past week, Indian forces have razed homes, detained over 1,500 Kashmiri youths, and carried out violent raids, further exacerbating the despair of an already beleaguered population. These actions are clear violations of international law and even the Indian Constitution’s protections for due process and the right to shelter.

Kashmiris, who were the first to provide aid and solidarity to the victims of the attack, are now bearing the brunt of India’s brutal reprisals. Innocent students across India face harassment, violence, and eviction solely because of their Kashmiri identity. This alarming pattern of Islamophobic violence, fueled by Hindu supremacist rhetoric, has placed millions of Kashmiris and Indian Muslims at risk.

Following the Pahalgam attack, online hate campaigns targeted Islam and Kashmiri Muslims, with numerous social media users advocating for “Israeli-style” military operations in Kashmir, explicitly referencing the genocide in Gaza as a blueprint.

The deliberate targeting of Kashmiri homes and communities under the guise of “counterinsurgency” mirrors the tactics of demographic engineering seen in other occupied territories. India’s oppressive response to the Pahalgam attack lays bare its intention to collectively punish an entire population for the actions of unknown perpetrators. The lives of many Kashmiri political prisoners remain at risk as Hindu nationalists call for their execution as an act of ‘revenge.’ 

We urge the international community to recognize that the cycle of violence in Kashmir is a direct result of India’s militarized occupation and its refusal to honor Kashmiris’ right to self-determination. The attack must not serve as a pretext for further dehumanization and repression of the Kashmiri people. Kashmir will not be able to flourish and see peace until the end of the occupation.

Justice for All demands:

1. An independent international investigation into the Pahalgam attack to ensure accountability and transparency.

2. An immediate halt to collective punishment measures, including demolitions, mass detentions, and the targeting of students and civilians.

3. UN intervention to ensure the protection of Kashmiri civilians and to press for compliance with international humanitarian law.

4. An end to India’s militarized policies in Kashmir and a commitment to dialogue addressing the region’s political future based on the will of its people.

Justice for All stands in solidarity with the Kashmiri people and calls for urgent action to prevent further atrocities. This cycle of violence and repression must end, and the fundamental rights of Kashmiris must be upheld.