Every year on December 10, International Human Rights Day serves as a reminder of the universal rights and freedoms to which all people are entitled. It is a day to reflect on human dignity, justice, and equality. However, a critical aspect missing from the global human rights discourse is the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in facilitating algorithmic repression, particularly in  Indian-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). While the narrative on human rights in Kashmir often highlights multiple dynamics of oppression, the growing influence of AI-driven repression remains under-explored. In IIOJK, India’s deployment of AI technologies has raised concerns about how modern technological advancements are being weaponized against an already suppressed population.

India’s Use of AI in IIOJK

India’s use of AI in IIOJK has expanded significantly in recent years, with facial recognition systems, autonomous drones, and AI-driven surveillance tools being employed to tighten control over the region’s population. In May 2024, the Jammu and Kashmir Police introduced an AI-based facial recognition system near a tunnel on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in Ramban. This system, which integrates high-resolution CCTV cameras with an AI-enabled database of militants, overground workers, and criminals, can identify individuals even if they are wearing masks. This development marks a significant shift from manual CCTV footage review to automated, AI-based surveillance.

The deployment of such technology is not limited to facial recognition. In August 2024, it was reported that the Indian Army began using Kamakzhi drones in military operations inside IIOJK. These small, AI-enabled drones enhance real-time situational awareness and can potentially engage in precision targeting. By October 2024, India’s security forces had incorporated unmanned vehicles and AI-driven operational tools to counter fighters in IIOJK. Such advancements not only signal a militarized use of AI but also underscore the risks of algorithmic bias, misidentification, and profiling within the Kashmiri population.

India’s Broader AI and Military Spending

India’s AI adoption in military operations is not an isolated effort; it reflects a broader trend in its national defense strategy. By 2027, India’s AI spending is projected to reach $6 billion. Within its defense sector, India currently allocates around $50 million (approximately Rs 400 crore) annually for military AI projects. The Defence Artificial Intelligence Project Agency (DAIPA) alone has been granted a five-year budget of $12 million (INR 100 crore) for infrastructure development and AI integration across the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

The scope of India’s military AI push is extensive. In 2022, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated 75 new AI-enabled military products. These technologies span the development of autonomous systems, smart drones, advanced surveillance tools, and AI-powered decision-support systems. The convergence of AI, surveillance, and autonomous weapons into India’s defense strategy not only bolsters its military capabilities but also intensifies its control over regions like IIOJK.

The Legacy of Repression in IIOJK

To fully grasp the implications of AI-based repression in Kashmir, it is essential to contextualize it within the region’s history of human rights violations. Following the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, Kashmiris were subjected to heightened surveillance, communication blackouts, and increased military presence. An article published in The Diplomat in 2020 noted that Kashmiris faced rising prejudice and became targets of suspicion. This stigmatization has been amplified by the use of surveillance technologies, transforming the region into one of the most militarized zones in the world.

Amnesty International’s reports further highlight the entrenched culture of impunity in IIOJK. Between 1990 and 2012, nearly 100 cases of human rights violations were filed by victims’ families. According to police and court records, the Jammu and Kashmir police often failed to register or act on complaints. Such systemic failures have created an environment where justice is elusive, and accountability is absent. The introduction of AI into this context, therefore, poses the risk of automating and legitimizing existing patterns of repression.

The Future of Algorithmic Repression in IIOJK

The integration of AI-based surveillance, predictive policing, and facial recognition in IIOJK introduces new dimensions to repression. While physical violence is visible and can be documented, algorithmic repression operates covertly, with minimal oversight or accountability. AI-based facial recognition systems can misidentify individuals due to algorithmic bias, leading to wrongful detentions and stigmatization of ordinary Kashmiris as militants or criminals. For a region that has already faced decades of enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and arbitrary detentions, the use of AI in repression creates new layers of control.

Moreover, the future of AI-enabled repression in Kashmir may see the deployment of more autonomous drones, predictive analytics, and enhanced biometric surveillance. AI-driven profiling could exacerbate the “pre-crime” narrative, where individuals are flagged as threats based on predictive algorithms, even before any crime is committed. This has significant implications for civil liberties, as it normalizes state control over fundamental freedoms like movement, assembly, and privacy.

Furthermore, the introduction of AI-enabled unmanned vehicles in Kashmir represents another dimension of algorithmic control. While drones are often justified as tools for security, their capacity for persistent surveillance and targeted strikes makes them tools of fear and intimidation. Drones equipped with AI-based decision-making systems raise ethical concerns about lethal autonomy, where life-or-death decisions may be made by machines rather than human operators. The risks of errors, malfunction, and bias are especially grave in a region like IIOJK, where civilian populations are in close proximity to areas of conflict. As India matures in its technological capabilities through international cooperation with the US and other technological companies, it is likely to further utilize these advancements to intensify human rights violations and strengthen its control over the region.

Conclusion

As the world observed International Human Rights Day, it is crucial to recognize and confront the emerging challenge of algorithmic repression. In Indian-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, AI-driven surveillance, predictive policing, and autonomous drones are going to reshape the repression apparatus. AI   misuse in the most militarized region in the world highlights the darker side of technological advancement. India’s growing AI and military spending, its deployment of facial recognition, and the use of unmanned systems in IIOJK reveal a broader strategy of control.

Without meaningful oversight, regulation, and accountability, algorithmic repression will continue to erode human rights in Indian Occupied Kashmir. The international human rights community must therefore expand its discourse beyond physical repression to include the covert, yet equally harmful, dynamics of AI-driven control. Only by addressing these emerging threats can the principles of human rights, dignity, and justice be upheld in an era of algorithmic dominance.

Authors

Zohaib Altaf, Associate Director at Center for International Strategic Studies AJK

Nimra Javed, research Officer at Center for International Strategic Studies AJK