Friends of Kashmir, Pakistani and Sikh Communities Unite Against Indian Atrocities in IIOJK

Washington, D.C. – In a powerful show of unity and resistance, the Friends of Kashmir organized a protest in front of the Indian Embassy in Washington DC, drawing activists and leaders from Pakistani, Kashmiri, and Sikh communities. The demonstration sent a clear message against India’s actions in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), calling for justice, international intervention, and the right to self-determination for the Kashmiri people.

Organized by Friends of Kashmir Chairperson Ghazala Habib, the protest aimed to highlight Indian atrocities in IIOJK and bring global attention to alleged human rights violations committed under the Modi government. Protesters, including overseas Pakistanis, Kashmir solidarity groups, and Sikh community leaders, stood together holding placards and banners emblazoned with anti-Modi slogans.

Chants of “Modi is a terrorist” echoed through the crowd as demonstrators accused the Indian Prime Minister of spearheading a campaign of violence and oppression in the region. The call for protest by Friends of Kashmir served as a platform for various voices to condemn what they described as systematic state terrorism and brutal occupation in IIOJK.

Speakers at the event included Ghazala Habib, Balwinder Singh Chatha, Muhammad Zubair Khan, Dr. Aashir Hussain, Mazhar Chughtai, and Zahida Khan—all of whom fiercely criticized the Indian government. They alleged that the recent Pahalgam attack was a false flag operation orchestrated by Indian intelligence agencies, similar to previous incidents such as the Chittisinghpora massacre during U.S. President Bill Clinton’s visit in 2000.

The speakers accused the Indian state of manipulating global narratives and exploiting terrorism as a tool to malign Pakistan while justifying its crackdown in Kashmir. They called attention to India’s long history of human rights abuses in IIOJK, including enforced disappearances, torture, and mass civilian arrests.

The protest concluded with a resounding appeal to the international community to break its silence on India’s actions in Kashmir. Speakers emphasized the urgent need for international intervention and urged the United Nations and human rights bodies to support the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination, guaranteed under international law.

This protest was more than just a demonstration—it was a clarion call to justice, demanding that world leaders and institutions move beyond rhetoric and hold India accountable for its occupation of IIOJK and its violations of international human rights norms.