MUZAFFARABAD, : The University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (UAJK) on Thursday organized a seminar to commemorate the 78th Foundation Day of the Azad Government of the State of Jammu and Kashmir, reaffirming the collective resolve to continue the struggle for the complete liberation of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
The seminar titled “From Liberated AJK We Vow: Until Every Inch of IIOJK is Free, Our Struggle Continues” was jointly organized by the University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir in collaboration with the All Parties Hurriyat Conference Jammu and Kashmir at the Education Hall, Chella Campus. The event was hosted by the Directorate of Students Affairs,
Addressing the gathering as the chief guest, Convenor of All Parties Hurriyat Conference Jammu and Kashmir, Ghulam Muhammad Safi, said that the day serves as a reminder of the purpose for which the Azad Government was established in the liberated territory. “We must reflect on the history of our struggle and ask ourselves why, even after 78 years, we have not succeeded in freeing the occupied part of Jammu and Kashmir from Indian control,” he remarked.
Calling Kashmir not a territorial dispute but a question of the lives, rights, religion, and culture of millions of Kashmiris, Safi emphasized that the issue must be seen in its broader humanitarian and political context.
Outlining the way forward, he urged the leadership of Pakistan and AJK to sit together and devise a unified, pragmatic policy for the Kashmir cause. “We need to engage global powers, neutralize those with veto authority, and break India’s obstinate stance,” he said. He added that the freedom struggle requires robust political, diplomatic, and military strategies to counter India’s unyielding policies in the region.
Speaking on the occasion, veteran Kashmiri leader and Chairman of the Kashmir Institute of International Relations (KIIR), Islamabad, Altaf Hussain Wani, drew a sharp comparison between the situation in IIOJK and Azad Jammu and Kashmir since 1947. “While AJK has seen progress and empowerment in every sector; education, health, and infrastructure, IIOJK has witnessed continuous disempowerment and suppression,” he observed.
Wani lauded Pakistan’s vital role in supporting AJK’s governance structure, saying that “we have a Prime Minister, President, Chief Justice, and complete institutional setup here, while the occupied territory is directly ruled from New Delhi.” He further highlighted that the recent revelations in ‘Banyan ul Marsoos’ have helped internationalize the Kashmir issue, exposing India’s long-standing designs of subjugation.
Hurriyat leader Abdul Hameed Lone urged students and young researchers to play their part by studying and documenting the history of the Kashmir liberation movement. He said that many international writers had already exposed India’s nefarious plans for the complete annexation of Jammu and Kashmir as early as 1947. “It is time our own youth take the lead in telling the truth to the world,” he emphasized.
Representing the host institution, Registrar UAJK Prof. Dr. Saadat Hanif Dar said that the foundation of the Azad Government was laid with the clear objective of securing the freedom of the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir. “On this day, we must ask ourselves what contribution we have made individually and collectively to the freedom movement,” he said. He added that universities have a moral and intellectual responsibility to produce informed citizens who can effectively advocate for the rights of their people.
Earlier, Dr. Sumaira Shafique, Director, Institute of Kashmir Studies, also addressed the seminar, emphasizing the role of academic institutions in promoting research-based understanding of the Kashmir conflict.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Prof. Dr. Muhammad Rafique, Dean Faculty of Sciences, who appreciated the speakers for their insightful contributions and reaffirmed UAJK’s commitment to continue academic and intellectual engagement with the Kashmir cause.
At the conclusion of the event, Dean Faculty of Sciences Prof. Dr. Rafiq Ahmed, Registrar Prof. Dr. Dar, and Director Students Affairs Dr. Rehana Kousar presented souvenirs to the APHC leaders in recognition of their participation and continued services for the Kashmir cause.
Mr. Aamir Jhangir, Lecturer, Department of Kashmir Studies, moderated the session.