APHC Expresses Gratitude to Pakistan on Kashmir’s Day of Exploitation

The All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) has expressed deep gratitude to the government and people of Pakistan for their steadfast solidarity with the people of occupied Jammu and Kashmir on Youm-e-Istehsal Kashmir, observed on August 5. APHC spokesperson Advocate Abdul Rasheed Minhas, in a statement issued from Srinagar, acknowledged that Pakistan’s unwavering support has significantly bolstered the morale of the Kashmiri people. He emphasized that Pakistan has consistently stood by Kashmiris through every challenge, acting as a true benefactor.

By commemorating Youm-e-Istehsal, Minhas noted, Islamabad has sent a strong message to the international community, particularly to India, underscoring that the entire Pakistani nation stands united with the Kashmiri people in their quest for freedom. The struggle for self-determination, he affirmed, will persist until it is fully realized.

The APHC spokesperson also highlighted the BJP and RSS-led Indian government’s attempts to erase Kashmir’s Muslim identity and revive a pre-Islamic Hindu civilization in the region. He pointed out that by settling non-locals in occupied Jammu and Kashmir, India aims to alter the Muslim-majority character of the territory.

Illegally detained Hurriyat leader Maulvi Bashir Ahmad Irfani echoed these sentiments, expressing his gratitude to Pakistan for its continued support. He described August 5 as a painful day in Kashmir’s history, marking the illegal revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status by India. Irfani condemned India’s actions, which he said have turned occupied Jammu and Kashmir into an open prison, depriving Kashmiris of their basic political, social, and religious rights.

Irfani appealed to the United Nations, European Union, Islamic countries, and international human rights organizations to intervene and halt India’s atrocities. He stressed the importance of preserving Kashmir’s unique identity, describing it as a life-and-death issue for Kashmiri Muslims. The changes imposed on August 5, 2019, he argued, are unacceptable and have only worsened the situation in the region, violating international norms and stripping Kashmiris of their honor and identity.