Pakistan has strongly condemned India’s decision to feel two prominent organizations in Indian -occupied Kashmir as “illegal associations” for five years.

AAC, led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, a key figure in the Kashmir resistance movement, and Jkim, led by the late Maulana Mohammad Abbas Ansari until his death in 2022, were both declared illegal under Indian law.

The decision brings the total number of banned political parties and organizations in the region to 16.

“Pakistan condemns the Indian authorities’ decision to declare AAM and JKIM as” illegal association “for a period of five years,” the statement states.

“AAM is led by a prominent political and religious leader, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. Jkim was also founded by another remarkable political and religious leader, Maulana Mohammad Abbas Ansari, who led it until his death in 2022, ”the statement continued.

The statement emphasized that the decision is an attempt to suppress political activities and stifle dissent in the region, disregarding democratic principles and international human rights standards.

Earlier this month, Pakistan rejected declarations from India’s Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaisankar about Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).

Jaishankar had called for the return of what he described as the “stolen part of Kashmir,” and referred to AJK as being under “illegal Pakistani occupation.”