In Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), the escalating crisis of malnutrition among children has become a silent tragedy that is being largely ignored by the global community, despite its undeniable humanitarian consequences. More than 1.14 lakh (114,000) children in the region are currently suffering from malnutrition, according to a recent report shared by the Social Welfare Department of IIOJK. As disturbing as these numbers are, they are just the tip of the iceberg in a much larger crisis that has been exacerbated by decades of conflict, governmental neglect, and an ongoing humanitarian crisis.
While India’s focus remains firmly set on state-backed terrorism accusations in the region, it appears to be turning a blind eye to the appalling plight of its most vulnerable citizens: the children. Instead of providing basic needs and ensuring the welfare of its youngest population, the Indian government seems to prioritize a narrative of military dominance, suppressing opposition, and seeking to quell the voices of those demanding justice for Kashmir’s oppressed population.
The figures are staggering. More than 24,000 children are suffering from severe acute malnutrition (SAM), while 69,000 are experiencing moderate acute malnutrition (MAM). An additional 20,000 children are suffering from anemia, a condition that further weakens an already fragile population. These children, once full of potential, now face a future marred by stunted growth, developmental delays, and lifelong health issues. For them, the future appears bleak trapped in a system that has failed them at every turn.
The ongoing conflict in Jammu and Kashmir, coupled with years of underdevelopment and neglect by the occupying Indian government, has left millions of families struggling to survive. Despite being one of the wealthiest nations in the world, India has continued to prioritize its military occupation of Kashmir, pouring resources into security operations and a flawed counter-insurgency strategy while the most basic social services, like nutrition and healthcare, are given little to no attention. The children, the most innocent victims of this violence, are paying the price of a larger political battle that seems to have no end in sight.
It is heart-wrenching that in a region where political rhetoric is often steeped in concerns about sovereignty and security, the real crisis unfolding daily is one of malnutrition and public health failure. As the Indian government pushes its agenda of securing the territory, it has failed to secure the future of its most defenseless citizens—the children of Kashmir. These children are not responsible for the conflict around them. They did not choose to be born into a state of war. Yet, they are the ones who are left to bear the brunt of this unrelenting struggle.
One of the most alarming aspects of this tragedy is the lack of international attention. The global community, often vocal in its condemnation of violence and political oppression, has largely ignored the ongoing suffering of the Kashmiri children. Organizations like UNICEF and the World Health Organization have issued reports highlighting the severity of the malnutrition crisis, but these calls for action have failed to spark any meaningful intervention or support. The international community, caught in its own web of political interests and diplomatic maneuvering, has largely looked away from the plight of these children, leaving them to fend for themselves.
India’s claim to have brought peace to the region is an illusion—one that is not grounded in reality but rather in an ongoing cycle of military escalation and oppression. The Indian government continues to downplay the suffering of its own citizens in Kashmir, instead focusing on the actions of insurgent groups, which, though serious, do not erase the fact that the region’s civilian population is drowning in poverty, malnutrition, and fear.
This issue is not just one of politics; it is one of basic human rights. A child suffering from malnutrition in Kashmir today is being denied the fundamental right to health, to food, to a future. These children, who should be in classrooms, playing with their peers, and dreaming of a better future, are instead caught in a struggle for survival, a fight they did not choose but were born into. They deserve the same attention, care, and resources that children in any other part of the world receive, but instead, they remain invisible, neglected by the system that should be their protector.
As India continues its focus on maintaining control over the region, it becomes increasingly clear that the true casualties of this ongoing conflict are not just the adults who live in the shadow of violence, but the children whose lives are being destroyed before they even have a chance to begin. These children are the future of Kashmir, but unless urgent action is taken to address their basic needs, that future will remain uncertain.
It is time for the world to recognize that the suffering in Kashmir goes beyond political struggles and military tactics, it is a humanitarian crisis that demands immediate attention. The children of Kashmir are not pawns in a political game; they are human beings who deserve the right to a safe, healthy, and fulfilling life. Their cries for help must not be ignored any longer. The international community must step in, not just to end the violence, but to address the dire health and nutritional crisis that is devastating the future of Kashmir. If we continue to ignore the suffering of these children, we will be complicit in their loss, both as individuals and as a society.
It is time for a global reckoning. The children of Kashmir deserve a chance to live, to thrive, and to hope for a better future, free from malnutrition, free from violence, and free from the shadows of state-backed terrorism that have cast a dark cloud over their lives for far too long.
