Kashmir’s Struggle and the Demand for Right to Self-Determination

IIOJK’s call for justice rings louder as decades of unfulfilled promises fuel a fight for freedom.

Kashmiris across the Line of Control and globally will observe Right to Self-Determination Day this Sunday on January 5, reiterating their demand for freedom through the UN-backed plebiscite. This annual commemoration underscores the relentless fight against oppression and the refusal to bow to Indian dominance.

On January 5, 1949, the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution affirming Kashmiris’ right to determine their future through a fair plebiscite. Despite the passage of over seven decades, the UN’s promises remain unfulfilled, fueling ongoing resentment and unrest in the region. This day sees rallies, seminars, and conferences worldwide, serving as a stark reminder to the UN of its moral and legal duty to enforce its resolutions, bringing an end to the brutal subjugation Kashmiris face.

Currently, Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) languishes under the iron grip of Indian occupation. A military siege, orchestrated by the BJP government and its communal administrator Manoj Sinha, chokes the region. The All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) has called on the international community to press India into honoring the UN’s 1949 resolution. They implore the global powers to intervene, ensuring Kashmiris finally receive the self-determination they’ve long been denied.

Advocate Abdul Rashid Minhas, APHC spokesperson, highlights the dismal conditions prevailing in IIOJK. State-sponsored terrorism, mass arrests of leaders, and severe deprivation plague the area. Since the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019, the economic collapse and essential shortages have intensified, reflecting India’s calculated campaign of systemic genocide.

The APHC denounces India’s brutal policies, urging urgent international intervention to stop the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in IIOJK. They demand that New Delhi cease its violence and adhere to the principles of justice, acknowledging the rightful aspirations of the Kashmiri people.