SRINAGAR: As the world observed the International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression, a report highlighted the heavy toll the Kashmir conflict has taken on children in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), according to Beyond Time News.
The report stated that 933 children have lost their lives during the past 38 years amid the ongoing conflict in the territory. It noted that these children were among thousands of civilians affected by violence since January 1989.
According to the report, the conflict has also left more than 108,000 children orphaned after losing one or both parents. Many others have suffered injuries during various incidents, including the use of pellets, bullets and tear gas shells.
The report further highlighted the long-term impact of pellet and other crowd-control weapons, stating that hundreds of young people sustained serious eye injuries, with some permanently losing vision in one or both eyes.
It added that numerous boys and girls under the age of 19 were killed during military operations and encounters over the years, while many minors have also faced detention under various security laws.
Calls for International Attention
In a statement issued in Srinagar, APHC spokesman Advocate Abdul Rashid Minhas expressed concern over the situation of children in the region, saying many minors continue to face hardship and insecurity.
He urged international organizations, including the United Nations, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the European Union, and global human rights and child welfare bodies, to pay greater attention to the challenges faced by Kashmiri children.
Minhas said children in the region have borne a significant burden of the conflict, with many losing family members, suffering injuries, or growing up in difficult circumstances.
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Demand for Protection of Children’s Rights
Separately, several APHC-AJK leaders also called for stronger international efforts to safeguard children’s rights and welfare in conflict-affected areas.
They stressed the need for greater protection of minors and urged global institutions to support peaceful efforts aimed at ensuring security, stability, and a better future for children in the region.
The report concluded that the humanitarian impact of the conflict on children remains a serious concern and requires sustained attention from the international community.
