Kashmir Solidarity Day Reflects Decades of Sacrifice and the Fight for Self-Determination: APHC

Despite relentless suppression and brutalities, the people of IIOJK remain steadfast in their pursuit of self-determination, with sacrifices that have continued for decades—supported by global solidarity and an unwavering resolve to resist oppression.

The All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) has emphasized that the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) are making immense and unparalleled sacrifices in their ongoing struggle for the right to self-determination. The APHC stressed that neither suppression nor brutal tactics would force them to abandon their rightful cause. The statement was made by APHC spokesman, Advocate Abdul Rashid Minhas, who addressed the situation in a public statement issued from Srinagar.

Minhas also extended gratitude to the people of Pakistan for observing Kashmir Solidarity Day on February 5, a day that symbolized their continued support for the oppressed Kashmiris. The demonstration of solidarity, Minhas noted, was not just symbolic but a sign of the global commitment to supporting Kashmir’s freedom movement. Pakistan’s support remains pivotal as the Kashmiri struggle continues to gain attention worldwide.

The APHC spokesman called on the international community to urgently intervene to halt the oppressive tactics being carried out under the Hindutva ideology, led by the Indian BJP government. He condemned the use of military and police forces by India to enforce black laws and suppress the indigenous liberation movement in IIOJK. According to Minhas, these measures are aimed at crushing the legitimate demand of the Kashmiri people for their fundamental right to self-determination. Despite these obstacles, the APHC affirmed that the immense sacrifices made by the people of Kashmir will never be in vain.

Kashmiris, Minhas pointed out, have been suffering and sacrificing since 1947, particularly in the last three decades, as India has escalated its oppressive tactics. He noted that the Indian government has relentlessly used brutal repression to undermine the Kashmiri independence movement, yet these efforts would ultimately fail. The courage and determination of the Kashmiri people to resist occupation will remain unbroken.

In further remarks, the APHC spokesman highlighted that the Hindutva-led government of the BJP and RSS in India has come to realize that the Kashmiri people will never relinquish their pursuit of freedom. This realization prompted India to revoke IIOJK’s special status on August 5, 2019, implementing a military and police siege and pushing forward an agenda aimed at altering the region’s demographic composition. This decision, the APHC argued, was part of a deliberate strategy to undermine the Kashmiri identity and suppress the liberation movement.

Further demonstrating this approach, Minhas highlighted how the Indian government, in violation of United Nations resolutions, has issued domicile certificates to thousands of outsiders—Indian soldiers, bureaucrats, traders, and even non-Kashmiri laborers, including Indian Hindus, who have married into Kashmiri families. This move is an attempt to change the demographic makeup of IIOJK, thus further cementing the Indian control over the region.

The APHC’s statement reaffirms that despite India’s oppressive policies, the Kashmiri people will not surrender their struggle for self-determination. The sacrifices and support from both within the region and globally will continue to fuel their resistance, no matter how many tactics India employs to crush their demand for freedom.