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The data shows that the overwhelming majority of the documented graves, specifically 2,493, belong to foreign militants
A central focus of the study is the acknowledgment of 276 unmarked graves, with a significant concentration in Baramulla. Representational image/AI-generated
A recent report on unmarked graves in Kashmir by the Save Youth Save Future Foundation offers a data-driven account that challenges long-standing narratives and counters Pakistan-sponsored propaganda. The comprehensive survey, which documented 4,056 graves across 373 graveyards in the districts of Baramulla, Kupwara, Bandipora, and Ganderbal, aims to provide empirical evidence and deliver closure to affected families.
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The report’s most significant finding, top intelligence sources say, is the classification of the graves into five distinct categories. The data shows that the overwhelming majority of the documented graves, specifically 2,493, belong to foreign militants. This key finding directly refutes the previous propaganda that portrayed the graves as mass burials of Kashmiri civilians. The survey also identified 1,208 graves of local militants, 9 graves of civilians, and 70 graves of tribal invaders from the 1947 conflict, which the report highlights as evidence of Pakistan’s historical role in destabilising Kashmir.
A central focus of the study is the acknowledgement of 276 unmarked graves, with a significant concentration in Baramulla. The report argues these graves are a tragic fallout of the infiltration-driven insurgency and recommends a Valley-wide forensic programme. This programme, involving exhumations, DNA testing, and direct family involvement, is presented as a crucial step towards both providing closure and dismantling Pakistan’s ability to exploit ambiguity for propaganda purposes.
According to the sources, the methodology used in the report is robust, combining geotagging, photographs, oral testimonies, and official records. The study acknowledges the challenges faced, such as limited access to 1990s records and witness fear. However, by triangulating testimonies with official FIRs and graveyard documentation, the survey aims to correct past misclassifications and replace a polarised discourse with a transparent, evidence-based approach. The report also highlights that clerics and gravediggers performed Islamic burial rites for even the infiltrators, countering accusations of state disrespect toward the deceased.
About the Author
Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18
Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18
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