ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): In Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir, nearly 450,000 Kashmiris have laid down their lives over the past 78 years in the struggle for freedom from Indian occupation and accession to Pakistan.
Despite India’s relentless campaign of repression, the Kashmiris’ deep-rooted affection and unwavering bond with Pakistan remain unshaken.
According to a report released by the Research Section of Kashmir Media Service on the occasion of Accession to Pakistan Day, nearly 450,000 Kashmiris have sacrificed their lives in pursuit of freedom and union with Pakistan over more than seven decades.
Since January 1989 alone, Indian troops have martyred over 96,454 Kashmiris, including 7,329 who were killed in custody. Additionally, at least 8,000 have been subjected to enforced disappearance, over 11,267 women have been molested, and more than 110,559 homes and commercial properties have been destroyed.
More than 5,000 Kashmiris are currently in Indian jails
The KMS report noted that more than 5,000 Kashmiris, including All Parties Hurriyat Conference leaders such as Chairman Masarrat Alam Butt, Shabbir Ahmed Shah, Muhammad Yasin Malik, Aasiya Andrabi, Naeem Ahmed Khan, Dr. Hamid Fayaz, Naheeda Nasreen, Fahmida Sofi, Ayaz Muhammad Akbar, Peer Saifullah, Raja Miraj-ud-Din Kalwal, Shahid-ul-Islam, Farooq Ahmed Dar, and others, are currently imprisoned in Indian jails and detention centers.
The report further highlighted that the BJP-led Hindutva government under Narendra Modi has intensified its crackdown on innocent Kashmiris since the abrogation of IOJK’s special status on August 5, 2019. It has stripped them of their political, economic, social, and even religious rights, aiming to crush their identity and resistance.
Yet in the face to sustained brutalities, the Kashmiri people have remained resilient and defiant in their demand for freedom from illegal Indian occupation. Their love and devotion to Pakistan remain deep and everlasting.
Kashmiris consider Pakistan a steadfast advocate and supporter of their cause and are profoundly grateful for Pakistan’s continued political, diplomatic, and moral support in their struggle for the right to self-determination.
The report reiterated that the spirit of the historic July 19, 1947 resolution, which called for Kashmir’s accession to Pakistan, lives on in the hearts of the Kashmiri people and continues to inspire and guide their freedom movement.
The resolution of July 19, the report concluded, not only reflected the collective will of Kashmiris but also thwarted the sinister designs of the Indian and British rulers.
Kashmiris remain firm in their pledge: they will not rest until they attain complete freedom from Indian occupation and achieve their long-cherished dream of accession to Pakistan.
