IIOJK’s Freedom Key to Peace as Resistance to Indian Oppression Grows: APHC

What India calls peace in IIOJK, the people call fear — a silence enforced not by calm, but by coercion where APHC leads the Freedom Movement.

In Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), a wave of posters has appeared across Srinagar and surrounding areas. These posters, boldly displayed on walls, poles, and public spaces, carry a defiant message: resistance to Indian tyranny will not end.

The posters declare the unwavering resolve of Kashmiris to continue their struggle for freedom despite brutal repression. One of them reads, “We will resist Indian brutality with determination. Indian oppression cannot stop our path to freedom.” These messages have also spread across social media platforms like X and Facebook, amplifying the voice of the suppressed.

This growing sentiment on the ground is echoed by the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), which continues to demand a just resolution of the Kashmir conflict. In a recent statement from Srinagar, APHC spokesperson Advocate Abdul Rashid Minhas emphasized that Kashmir’s future must be decided in accordance with United Nations resolutions and the will of its people.

He stated that India has maintained its control over IIOJK for the last 77 years against the wishes of the local population. The people of the region, he noted, have shown unmatched courage and sacrifice in resisting this illegal occupation.

Minhas accused India of relying on military force and repressive laws to maintain its dominance, pointing to the use of black laws and brutal tactics to stifle dissent. He stressed that historical realities cannot be rewritten by propaganda and that lasting peace in the region is only possible through dialogue, not military aggression.

Meanwhile, residents in Srinagar and nearby areas shared their own grim experiences. Speaking to media representatives, many said the so-called peace being claimed by Indian authorities is actually the result of fear and intimidation.

People reported that since the revocation of IIOJK’s special status in August 2019, India has intensified its campaign of suppression. This includes restrictions on journalists, harassment of families, and tight control over information flow in the region.

Local citizens remarked that the prevailing silence is not peace but a direct consequence of fear spread by Indian troops and paramilitary forces. “They’ve silenced people, not calmed them,” said one resident.

A former professor, speaking anonymously, put it even more bluntly: “This is not peace—it is submission under threat. People still feel the same pain, but fear keeps them from expressing it.”

Observers and human rights activists agree: India is using fear to mask the reality in IIOJK. Behind the quiet lies a people still urging for freedom.