MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control and across the world are observing Jammu Martyrs’ Day today.
The day is observed to reiterate the resolve to continue the mission of the martyrs to achieve the Kashmiri people’s UN-recognized right to self-determination.
It was on 6th November, 1947, when hundreds of thousands of Kashmiris were massacred by Dogra forces of Maharaja Hari Singh, Indian troops, and Hindutva groups.
The massacres occurred across different parts of the Jammu region. The victims were migrating to Pakistan during the first week of November.
AJK PM Iftikhar Gilani Pays Tribute to Jammu Martyrs
Azad Jammu and Kashmir Prime Minister Iftikhar Gilani has paid tribute to the martyrs of Jammu on the occasion of Jammu Martyrs’ Day, describing November 6 as a tragic and unforgettable day in the history of the Kashmiri nation.
In a special message, the AJK prime minister said the day reminds the nation of the supreme sacrifices made by innocent Muslims of Jammu, who laid down their lives to protect their religious identity, freedom and fundamental rights.
He said the sacrifices of the Jammu martyrs remain an inseparable part of Kashmir’s history, collective consciousness and struggle for the right to self-determination.
According to historical accounts cited in the message, approximately 250,000 Muslims were targeted during the tragic events at Jammu’s Parade Ground and subsequent massacres across the region. Gilani described the killings as a horrific manifestation of religious extremism and prejudice, aimed at erasing the identity, civilisation and culture of Muslims.
The prime minister said the blood of the Jammu martyrs continues to inspire the Kashmiri people with determination and steadfastness in their struggle for freedom and national identity.
He further stated that the people of Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir have been struggling for decades to exercise their fundamental right to self-determination and decide their political future.
Gilani emphasized that Jammu and Kashmir is an internationally recognized dispute and its just resolution is possible only in accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people.
He urged the United Nations and the international community to take notice of the human rights situation in occupied Jammu and Kashmir and play an effective role in implementing their resolutions.
The AJK prime minister reaffirmed that the government and people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir would continue their political, moral and diplomatic support for the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination and raise the Kashmir issue at international forums.
He said preserving the memory of the Jammu martyrs was a national responsibility and prayed that Allah Almighty grant them the highest ranks and bless the people of occupied Kashmir with freedom, justice and self-determination.
