Islamabad: On the occasion of India’s so called Republic Day, a protest demonstration was held in the federal capital Islamabad under the auspices of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference and the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Cell. The protest was led by senior Hurriyat leader and Convener of the Hurriyat Conference Mahmood Ahmed Saghar.
The main objective of the demonstration was to draw the attention of the international community to what speakers described as India’s continued colonial and aggressive actions in occupied Kashmir under the guise of democracy. Protesters carried black flags and placards bearing slogans against Indian military occupation, while chants of Indian so called democracy down with and Go India Go Back echoed across the area.
Addressing the gathering, speakers expressed deep concern over the silence of the international community in the face of grave human rights violations in occupied Jammu and Kashmir. They said that Kashmiris across the world observe January 26 as Black Day every year to convey to the global conscience that India is an occupying power which has forcibly deprived more than twelve million Kashmiris of their freedom. They added that Kashmiris have been denied their basic political, religious and social rights, while extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and collective punishments have become routine in the occupied territory. The speakers recalled that India itself had taken the Kashmir dispute to the United Nations but has reneged on its commitments even after 78 years.
Senior Hurriyat leader Mahmood Ahmed Sagar appreciated Pakistan’s political, diplomatic and moral support for the Kashmiri people, calling Pakistan the true advocate of the Kashmir cause. He questioned the international community as to why the long standing disputes of East Timor and South Sudan could be resolved, yet the Kashmiri people continue to be denied their internationally recognized right to self determination. He warned that failure to resolve the Kashmir issue in accordance with United Nations resolutions could pose a serious risk of nuclear conflict in South Asia, with consequences for global peace. He asserted that despite Indian repression, the Kashmiri people would not retreat from their struggle.
A large number of senior Hurriyat leaders and activists participated in the protest. At the conclusion of the protest, participants reaffirmed their resolve to continue highlighting the Kashmiri freedom struggle at all forums worldwide and to keep raising their voice against what they termed India’s occupation.