Islamabad: In a politically charged move, an Indian court under the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has declared senior Hurriyat leader and Chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Salvation Movement, Altaf Ahmed Bhat, as a proclaimed offender. The court has issued a charge sheet against Altaf Bhat, who has been residing in Pakistan, accusing him of involvement in multiple cases and ordered his arrest and production in court. The directive authorizes Indian police to apprehend him wherever he may be found, including within Pakistan.

In response to this development, Altaf Ahmed Bhat strongly condemned the Indian court's decision. In a special statement to reporter, Altaf Ahmed Bhat said: 'We will not be cowed by India's nefarious tactics. We have burnt our boats and are fully committed to bringing the Kashmir freedom struggle to its just and final outcome. No amount of oppression or arrests will deter us.'

He further criticized the Indian government for exploiting the Pahalgam incident as a pretext to launch Israel-style operations in occupied Kashmir. These operations, he said, have led to mass demolitions of homes, the displacement of Kashmiri families, and the expulsion of Kashmiri students from Indian educational institutions. He revealed that over 4,000 innocent Kashmiris have been arrested, with numerous families torn apart-mothers from sons, wives from husbands, and children from parents-resulting in what he termed a 'heartbreaking humanitarian tragedy unparalleled in the modern world.'

Altaf Ahmed Bhat emphasized that 'Such inhumane actions will not weaken the resolve of the Kashmiri people in their pursuit of the right to self-determination. The ongoing freedom movement will not be extinguished through force.'

He further warned that Kashmir has become a nuclear flashpoint, pushing both India and Pakistan-two nuclear-armed nations-to the brink of war. He called on international organizations and the United Nations to take immediate and meaningful action to resolve the Kashmir dispute in accordance with relevant UN resolutions. 'Delaying a just resolution to the Kashmir issue could result in catastrophic consequences for the entire region,' he concluded.