SRINAGAR: The All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) has expressed grave concern over the environmental impact of Amarnath Yatra in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), demanding immediate global intervention.
APHC spokesman Advocate Abdul Rashid Minhas in a statement said that the annual influx of hundreds of thousands of Hindu pilgrims from Indian states severely threatens IIOJK’s fragile ecosystem.
He underscored issues such as heightened flood risks, glacier melting, and pollution resulting from the Hindu pilgrimage.
He condemned New Delhi for depriving Muslims of Kashmir of their rights, including restrictions on performing Friday and Eid prayers, while providing facilities and extensive security for Hindu pilgrims.
The 52-day Amarnath Yatra started on June 29 and will continue until August 19. Abdul Rashid Minhas said the government of India is ignoring the environmental threat of the Hindu pilgrimage in the occupied area.
The APHC spokesman asked the international community to take immediate notice of the danger posed to the environment of IIOJK by the Amarnath Yatra while putting pressure on India to cut short the duration of the pilgrimage and limit the number of pilgrims to save the environment of the disputed region.
