APHC Leader, Experts Demand Global Intervention Over India’s Destructive Policies Undermining IIOJK Farmers' Livelihoods

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Jul, 2025) Prominent All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) leader Muhammad Rafiq Dar and Kashmiri analysts on Sunday strongly criticized India’s actions, accusing the Indian government of sabotaging Kashmiri farmers, where an Indian minister formally acknowledged that farmers are being forced to sell their produce below cost, severely impacting their livelihoods.

In an exclusive interview with a state-run news channel, APHC leader Muhammad Rafiq Dar sharply criticized the acknowledgment by Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, stating that it underscores the deep-rooted systemic failures and the government's blatant inability to properly implement policies.

Dar further asserted that the ongoing economic blockade not only targets the agricultural sector but also undermines the larger Kashmiri economy.

He emphasized that by blocking the transportation of essential goods, particularly fruits like apples, the government is deliberately crippling a key pillar of Kashmir's economy, further entrenching poverty and limiting the region’s development.

He emphasized that these shortcomings are directly contributing to the ongoing harm and suffering of farmers' livelihoods in IIOJK.

He condemned the actions of the Indian armed forces, who have been halting trucks carrying fruits, further exacerbating the plight of farmers.

According to Dar, the government's delay in facilitating the transportation of these goods has led to widespread spoilage, particularly the supply of apples, causing severe economic loss.

Dar also criticized the authorities for their negligence, accusing them of undermining the agricultural sector by failing to implement timely measures, adding, the prolonged delays have resulted in fruits, especially apples, rotting on the roadside, intensifying the hardships faced by farmers already struggling with a volatile market.

He argued that these actions are part of a deliberate strategy aimed at hindering the economic progress of farmers and the broader Kashmiri population.

Kashmiri analyst Mushtaq Wani also strongly criticized the Indian government's actions, lamenting the dire condition of farmers in IIOJK.

He accused the government of systematically depriving farmers of their fundamental rights, particularly their access to fair markets and essential resources.

Wani emphasized that this ongoing exploitation is not merely an economic issue but a direct assault on the livelihoods of the people, highlighting the government’s deliberate attempt to suppress the region’s agricultural sector and undermine its economic autonomy.

Another strong Kashmiri voice, Abdul Hameed Lon, harshly described the deplorable condition of farmers in IIOJK, attributing the region's economic devastation to these continued injustices.

He condemned the government for inflicting severe damage on the local economy by neglecting the agricultural sector, stressing that the deliberate disruption of farmers' livelihoods is directly crippling IIOJK's economic stability.

Lon further emphasized that this targeted economic sabotage is not only eroding the prosperity of farmers but also undermining the region's overall economic growth and development.

The leaders urged the international community to take notice of the systematic exploitation and neglect of Kashmiri farmers, calling on global organizations to intervene and hold the Indian government accountable for its policies that are crippling the region's economy.

They emphasized that the world must recognize the dire consequences of these actions on the livelihoods of the Kashmiri people and the long-term damage to the region’s economic future.