Welcome to the Official Website of the Indo-American Kashmir Forum

Indo-American Kashmir Forum, commonly known as IAKF, was formed in 1991. IAKF represents the socio-political voice of the Kashmiri Pandit community residing in the United States. The Kashmiri Pandits are the Hindu minority group arising from the Valley of Kashmir in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, India.

IAKF was formed shortly after the period when armed Islamic insurgency in the state of Jammu and Kashmir turned violent and many Kashmiri Pandits were brutally killed by Islamic fundamentalists. The torture, rape, disfigurement, and murder of the peaceful community of Pandits was exceptionally cruel, resulting in the forced exodus of over 350,000 Pandits from their ancestral land. The internally displaced Pandits represent over 95% of their original total population in the valley.

IAKF was formed to inform the world community of the oppression against Kashmiri Pandits that led to their forced exile from Kashmir and the sad plight of the community members, many of whom are still living in makeshift 'refugee' camps. The organization seeks the return of Kashmiri Pandits to the Kashmir valley with guaranteed security and freedom to exercise their religious faith and cultural way of life without fear or intrusion.

IAKF works in conjunction with several different organizations abroad, including its sister organizations, Indo-Canadian Kashmir Forum (ICKF) and Indo-European Kashmir Forum (IEKF).

What's New?

2008 SHRI AMARNATH SHRINE BOARD LAND ORDER
The June 2008 uproar in Kashmir is more politics at its best. Kashmiri separatists started riots to protest the allotment of land for pilgrims on the famed Amarnath yatra. The duplicitous issues raised by these persons is tackled in depth in a series of articles--read under IAKF and Other Articles. Also, visit our multimedia section and hear an interview with IAKF President Lalit Koul discussing the background of this issue.

PUBLISHED RESEARCH ON CURRENT STATUS OF KASHMIRI PANDIT NON-MIGRANTS
IAKF distributed a 2007 research report on the status of the minority Kashmiri Pandit community that is currently residing in the Valley of Kashmir. This published paper is based on first-hand research and is already proving to be a valuable tool for all those interested in the status of minorities still in Kashmir. The report can be accessed free of charge by clicking here.