Cancer cases are witnessing a disturbing surge in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), with more than 32,000 patients reported across the territory over the past three years. According to Kashmir Media Service, the figures were disclosed by the IIOJK government in the Legislative Assembly in response to a question raised by Member of Assembly Abdul Waheed Para regarding treatment facilities for various diseases.

The government informed the house that a total number of 32,425 cancer cases were reported in the territory during the last three years. Official data revealed that 25,621 cases were reported in the Kashmir Valley between 2021 and 2024. Of them 8,021 cancer cases, including 4,333 males and 3,688 females, were reported in 2021, 8,621 (4,685 males, 3,936 females) in 2023 and 8,979 (4,789 males and 4,190) in 2024. In the Jammu region, 6,804 cases were reported over three years from 2023 to 2025.

The figures include 2,026 cases in 2023 (1,177 males and 859 females), 2,187 cases in 2024 (1,248 males and 939 females), and 2,581 cases in 2025 (1,116 males and 1,465 females). The most prevalent cancers in the occupied territory include lung, breast, oral, cervical, prostate and pancreatic cancers. While officials maintained that no unusual or uniquely threatening public health emergency has been detected in recent years, they acknowledged a noticeable rise in gastrointestinal and other malignant cancer cases across IIOJK.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)