Islamabad: Mishal Pakistan, in collaboration with the Faculty of Media & Communication Studies at Riphah International University, organized a seminar titled “Human-Centric Storytelling and Victims of Terrorism: Confronting Violations by Aggressive States.” The event comes on the eve of the United Nations International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism; 21st August, reaffirming solidarity with victims and survivors worldwide.
The seminar shed light on the deliberate targeting of Pakistani civilians during Operation Sindoor, when Indian missile and artillery strikes on 7 and 8 May 2025 hit homes, mosques, and marketplaces in Punjab and Azad Jammu & Kashmir. At least 31 civilians, including women and children, were killed, with dozens more injured. Speakers emphasized that such atrocities represent a clear violation of international humanitarian law and global human rights conventions.
In this context, the Marka-e-Haq Shuhda Forum has submitted a formal application to the United Nations Mission Observer Group on India and Pakistan, documenting that these attacks, carried out in the absence of any legitimate military objective, constitute violations of the UN Charter—including Article 1(1) on the maintenance of international peace and security, Article 1(3) on human rights and fundamental freedoms, Article 2(4) prohibiting the use of force against the territorial integrity of a state, and Article 2(3) requiring peaceful settlement of disputes. The Forum has urged the UN to condemn the deliberate targeting of civilians, mandate an independent fact-finding mission, refer the case to the International Court of Justice, and compel India to compensate victims under international humanitarian law.
Delivering the keynote address, Amir Jahangir, Member Experts Network, World Economic Forum, said, “Operation Sindoor painfully reminded us that civilians are not collateral damage; they are the very soul of our nation. The deliberate targeting of Pakistani civilians by India was a violation of every international legal norm.”
Puruesh Chaudhary, Chair of the Millennium Project, highlighted the long-term needs of survivors. “Victims of terrorism and aggression need more than symbolic solidarity. They require sustained psychological, social, and economic support. Storytelling restores dignity and builds resilience, ensuring that communities heal rather than fracture.”
Tahir Dhindsa, Director of SDTV, SDPI Islamabad, pointed to the media’s responsibility and said, “Operation Sindoor revealed a pattern of targeting civilians. Media must go beyond headlines to document these realities, amplify survivor voices, and hold aggressors accountable before international opinion.”
Sajjad Azhar, senior journalist and author, linked memory to justice and said, “Every victim has a name, a family, and a story. By keeping alive the memory of the atrocities of Operation Sindoor, we resist the silence that aggressors depend on. Justice begins when stories refuse to fade.”
