Farooq Abdullah urges Centre to speak up on PoK killings, rights violations
Synopsis
Farooq Abdullah has put the Centre in a tight spot: if PoK is India's, why is the government silent on reported killings there? His public challenge — backed by appeals to the UN Human Rights Commission — exposes a longstanding contradiction in India's official position on the territory it claims but does not control.
Key Takeaways
Dr Farooq Abdullah on 29 July demanded the Centre publicly address reported killings and alleged rights violations in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) .
He argued India cannot claim PoK as its own while remaining silent on the situation there.
Abdullah said he has appealed to the UN Human Rights Commission , the Prime Minister , and the External Affairs Minister to intervene.
National Conference warned that student-led protests in J&K will continue if demands are met with FIRs and arrests instead of dialogue.
NC legislators had to shift their 20 July statehood protest from Jantar Mantar to Prithviraj Road in New Delhi.
Dr Abdullah also flagged rising drug abuse and unemployment as urgent challenges in Jammu & Kashmir .
National Conference President and former Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday, 29 July challenged the central government to publicly address the reported killings and alleged human rights violations in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), arguing that India's long-standing claim over the territory demands a stronger official response. Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, Abdullah said the government cannot simultaneously assert that PoK is an integral part of India while remaining silent on what he described as a worsening situation there.
Abdullah's Core Challenge to the Centre
Dr Abdullah framed his demand in blunt terms: 'They keep saying PoK is our part. If it is your part, then why don't you speak about what is happening there? Why don't you say the killings should stop? I have not heard any statement from them.' The remark directly targets what he sees as an inconsistency between the government's territorial claims and its diplomatic silence on reported ground realities in PoK.
He said he has already written to United Nations Human Rights mechanisms, appealing for an on-ground assessment of the situation. 'I have requested the United Nations Human Rights Commission to go there, assess the situation and try to resolve the problems. I have also appealed to the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister,' he said, indicating that his outreach has so far not produced a visible official response.
Student Protests and the Statehood Demand
Beyond PoK, Dr Abdullah also addressed the ongoing student-led protests in Jammu & Kashmir, warning that the agitation would intensify if authorities responded with repression rather than dialogue. 'If the promises made to them are not fulfilled and instead they are met with FIRs, arrests and harassment, this movement will continue. The students have risen and, God willing, they will carry it forward,' he said.
The statehood question remains a live political flashpoint. National Conference (NC) legislators had planned a demonstration at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on 20 July to press for the restoration of full statehood to J&K, which was downgraded to a Union Territory in 2019. The venue had to be shifted to Prithviraj Road after Jantar Mantar was occupied by activities of another group on that date.
Drug Menace and Unemployment Concerns
Dr Abdullah also flagged the growing drug crisis among youth in Jammu & Kashmir, linking it directly to the region's persistent unemployment problem. He described unemployment as one of the most serious structural challenges facing the Union Territory, and called for urgent policy intervention to address both issues before they compound further.
What Comes Next
With no official response yet from the Centre on the PoK situation or the student demands, the National Conference appears set to keep pressure on the government through public statements and planned demonstrations. The statehood restoration campaign, in particular, is likely to remain a central plank of the party's political strategy ahead of any future electoral cycle in J&K.
Point of View
Which internationalises the framing and could embarrass the Centre if the Commission acts on it. The statehood question adds a second front: J&K's downgrade to a Union Territory in 2019 remains a raw political wound, and the student protests suggest that wound has not healed. The Centre's continued silence on both fronts risks ceding the narrative to the opposition ahead of any future electoral contest in the region.
NationPress
29 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Farooq Abdullah say about Pakistan-occupied Kashmir?
Dr Farooq Abdullah on 29 July demanded that the central government publicly condemn reported killings and alleged human rights violations in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). He argued that India cannot claim PoK as an integral part of the country while staying silent on conditions there.
Has the Centre responded to Abdullah's demand on PoK?
As of Abdullah's statement on 29 July, no official response from the Centre had been issued on the PoK situation. Abdullah said he had not heard any statement from the government on the reported killings.
What is the National Conference's statehood demand?
The National Conference is pressing for the restoration of full statehood to Jammu & Kashmir, which was downgraded to a Union Territory in 2019. NC legislators had planned a protest at Jantar Mantar on 20 July but had to shift the venue to Prithviraj Road in New Delhi.
What did Abdullah say about student protests in J&K?
Dr Abdullah warned that student-led protests in Jammu & Kashmir would continue if the authorities responded with FIRs, arrests, and harassment instead of addressing the students' demands. He said the movement would carry forward if promises remained unfulfilled.
Why did Abdullah approach the UN Human Rights Commission?
Dr Abdullah said he appealed to the UN Human Rights Commission to visit PoK, assess the ground situation, and help resolve the problems there. He also separately appealed to the Prime Minister and the External Affairs Minister to take note of the reported situation.
