The SOS International organization, which represents refugees displaced from Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK), has written an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging India to carry out a decisive military operation in PoK. In the appeal dated January 6, 2026, organization chairman Rajiv Chuni specifically called for a surgical strike to dismantle terror infrastructure in the region and capture Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin, also known as Mohammad Yusuf Shah. The request draws direct inspiration from the recent US special forces operation that led to the detention of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife in late December 2025, describing it as a bold example of targeted action against perceived threats.
Syed Salahuddin, designated a global terrorist by India and the United States, has long been accused of orchestrating attacks against Indian security forces and civilians in Jammu and Kashmir. Operating from PoK, he heads the United Jihad Council, an umbrella group of militant outfits, and has repeatedly issued threats and calls for jihad. The refugees' letter argues that neutralizing his network would significantly weaken cross-border terrorism and provide relief to those displaced by violence and instability in the region. SOS International, comprising members who fled PoK due to persecution and conflict, has positioned the appeal as a demand for justice and the restoration of rights for PoK natives.
The timing of the letter coincides with heightened diplomatic tensions following the US action in Venezuela, which India has not officially commented on extensively but which has sparked domestic debate about international precedents for addressing security threats. PoK refugees have historically voiced concerns over alleged human rights violations, demographic changes, and restricted freedoms under Pakistani administration, often appealing to India for intervention or support in reclaiming their homeland. While the Indian government has conducted surgical strikes in the past—most notably in 2016 and 2019—targeting terror launch pads, any future operation in PoK would carry significant strategic and geopolitical implications.
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The appeal has reignited discussions on India's policy toward PoK, a territory India claims as integral but which has remained under Pakistani control since 1947. SOS International emphasized that such an operation would align with India's stated position on reclaiming illegally occupied areas and combating terrorism at its source. The organization has urged the Prime Minister to consider the proposal seriously, framing it as both a moral imperative for displaced Kashmiris and a strategic necessity for national security. No official response from the government had been issued as of the latest reports.
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