Muzaffarabad, (PaJK) — Students of the Jammu and Kashmir Students’ Organization (JKSO) were attacked by members of Islami Jamiat Talaba (IJT) at the International Islamic University in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad. Reports indicate that the attackers assaulted the students, confiscating Pakistani-administered Kashmir flags and literature during a study circle.
JKSO leaders said hundreds of IJT activists, armed with sticks and iron rods, targeted them solely because of their Kashmiri identity. Several students were reportedly injured in the attack.
According to a press release by JKSO, the study circle was organized to discuss “The Revocation of Article 370 and 35A by India and the Future Challenges for Kashmir”. The release demanded immediate and strict action against the perpetrators.
The incident highlights ongoing tensions between student organizations at IIU, where IJT, the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, has maintained a long-standing dominant presence. Other student groups attempting to operate independently have reportedly faced harassment and violence.
Interestingly, leadership positions in IJT at the university are also held by members from Jammu and Kashmir, while a significant portion of the attackers were reportedly from the same region.
Observers say that recent years have seen increased targeting of Kashmiri students and activists in Pakistan, often backed by extremist groups with alleged tacit approval from certain state actors. Analysts warn that such actions aim to suppress voices advocating for Kashmir’s rights and to foster divisions along ethnic and political lines.
Two years ago, a similar incident occurred at Quaid-i-Azam University, where several Kashmiri students were violently attacked, indicating a worrying pattern of targeting Kashmiri students in Pakistani universities.
JKSO has pledged to continue its work for Kashmiri students’ rights and has called on university authorities and the government to ensure the safety and protection of students on campus.