JEDDAH: The Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s (OIC) independent wing on Wednesday condemned the intensified targeting of Kashmiris in various parts of India, highlighting the government’s failure to protect the civilians, and calling it a blatant violation of human rights, a statement released by the group read. 

The OIC’s Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) said that there was an increase in attacks in the aftermath of a suicide attack in Indian-administered Kashmir, which had resulted in the deaths of more than 40 paramilitary troops in the Pulwama district of the Valley.

The IPHRC’s statement was based on media reports which suggested that more than 700 Kashmiri students and traders had returned home since the incident on February 14.

“The OIC-IPHRC continues to emphasize that violence begets violence and denial of basic human rights provides space for extremist elements to operate and strike,” the statement said.

The IPHRC further called upon India to immediately bring an end to the atrocities and to provide access to international human rights bodies to visit Indian-administered Kashmir and assess the situation.

“The Commission welcomes the holding of the emergency meeting of the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir on February 26, 2019 in Jeddah,” the statement said, adding that it fully endorses its concerns and recommendations on the ongoing violation of human rights in the Valley.