ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): Abdul Hameed Lone, senior leader of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference and Vice Chairman of Friends of Kashmir, has strongly condemned the Modi administration’s intensified crackdown on pro-freedom activists in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
In a statement, he asserted that India’s attempts to silence the voices of Kashmiris through fear and oppression are doomed to fail.
Resilience of Kashmiri people
“The people of Kashmir have repeatedly demonstrated unwavering resilience in their struggle for self-determination, despite facing severe human rights violations and systematic suppression,” Lone stated.
He highlighted that India’s strategies—ranging from the use of excessive force to political manipulation and divide-and-rule tactics—have only fueled the Kashmiris’ resolve for freedom.
Historical movements, such as the mass uprising of 1989, have shown that Kashmiri unity strengthens in the face of oppression.
Lone further emphasized that the coercive policies of Indian leaders, including Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, cannot erase Kashmir’s internationally recognized status.
He reiterated that despite India’s persistent efforts to quell the Kashmiri people’s aspirations, the significance of their struggle remains unchanged.
“The narrative of so-called ‘normalcy’ in Kashmir is a falsehood that cannot conceal the ongoing resistance against Indian occupation,” he added.
He urged the international community, particularly the United Nations, to acknowledge the Kashmiris’ legitimate right to self-determination.
Lone stressed that a peaceful resolution to the conflict can only be achieved through meaningful dialogue and the recognition of Kashmiris’ fundamental rights rather than India’s continued attempts to suppress their aspirations through fear and violence.
