MIRPUR:
Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control (LOC) and around the world on Sunday marked India’s Republic Day as a ‘black day’ to protest the occupation and human rights violations in the Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
These annual protests in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), IIOJK and elsewhere are a reiteration of the strong indignation and resistance of Kashmiris against Indian rule and the continued brutality of Indian forces against the innocent Kashmiris.
In AJK, protest meetings and demonstrations were held in all the 10 districts, with a large rally in the state metropolis attended by leaders of various political parties and members of the AJK Legislative Assembly.
Similar protests were also held in other parts of the world, including Pakistan, to condemn India’s occupation and human rights violations in Kashmir and continued denial of their democratic right to self-determination.
In IIOJK, the day was marked by a complete shutdown amid heightened restrictions in the name of security measures, sending a clear message to the international community that India had no moral standing to celebrate its Republic Day.
The All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) urged the international community to take notice of the worsening situation in the IIOJK and press India to resolve the Kashmir dispute peacefully.
