True Eid Lies in Freedom: APHC Leader Reaffirms Resolve for Kashmir’s Liberation

As the Muslim world celebrates Eid, Kashmiri voices echo a different sentiment — one of resistance, grief, and an unyielding hope for freedom from what they call Indian colonial rule.

Senior Vice Chairman of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), Ghulam Ahmed Gulzar, issued a powerful Eid message from Srinagar, emphasizing that Kashmiris will only truly celebrate Eid when they are free from Indian control and their homeland is liberated.Extending Eid greetings to the entire Muslim Ummah, particularly Kashmiri Muslims, Gulzar highlighted that Eid is not just a festival of joy, but a moment to express gratitude to Allah, honor the martyrs, and stand in solidarity with widows, orphans, and the oppressed.He described the situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) as dire and tragic. “Our blood flows like water, our cries are endless, and our very identity is under threat,” Gulzar lamented. He spoke about the daily humiliations faced by Kashmiris, noting that their dignity, culture, and religion are systematically targeted.Gulzar strongly condemned India’s actions post-August 5, 2019, when Article 370 was revoked. He alleged that the Hindutva-driven Modi government aims to change Kashmir’s demography by settling non-Kashmiris and eroding the region’s Muslim identity.He painted a bleak picture of the region, calling it a “land of widows and orphans” where military oppression is rampant. Gulzar claimed that over 100,000 Kashmiris have been killed, thousands injured or disappeared, and women subjected to horrific violence since 1989. The sealing of mosques and the banning of religious festivals like Eid and Muharram were, according to him, proof of anti-Muslim intent.Despite the bleak scenario, Gulzar hailed the resilience of political prisoners, calling them the “heroes of Kashmir.” He urged the people to celebrate Eid with austerity and to remember the sacrifices of the martyrs by supporting their families.He appealed to religious scholars to invoke prayers for Kashmir’s freedom struggle and called on India to abandon its rigid and aggressive stance. Gulzar reiterated the importance of a tripartite dialogue involving Kashmiris, India, and Pakistan, insisting that Kashmir remains a nuclear flashpoint whose resolution is essential for lasting peace in South Asia.Ending on a solemn note, he warned against the dangers of delay, stating that the conflict, if unresolved, could result in a humanitarian catastrophe. He vowed to continue the freedom movement until it achieves its final goal.