Srinagar: The All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) has raised alarms over the increase in security operations, including cordon-and-search operations and frisking, by Indian forces in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir as January 26, India’s Republic Day, approaches.

According to a statement by Kashmir Media Service, APHC spokesperson Advocate Abdul Rashid Minhas expressed that the unresolved Kashmir dispute poses significant risks to the South Asian region. The statement emphasized that the region has been heavily militarized, with extensive search operations being conducted across Srinagar and other areas, which has led to considerable harassment of the local population.

The APHC has urged for January 26 to be observed as Black Day, calling on Kashmiris along the Line of Control and globally to protest against India’s ongoing denial of the right to self-determination for the Kashmiri people. The statement criticized India’s claims of peace and democracy as misleading, pointing out the harsh realities faced by residents, including frequent frisking and house raids.

Reaffirming their stand, the APHC stated that the right to self-determination is non-negotiable and called on the international community to facilitate a peaceful resolution. Furthermore, the statement accused India of fostering corruption and nepotism in the region since 1947, particularly emphasizing the corruption following 2019 under the administration of BJP-appointed Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.

Meanwhile, leaders from the International Forum for Justice and Human Rights and the Jammu and Kashmir Solidarity Movement criticized Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to the region, labeling it as a futile attempt to mislead the global community. They alleged that the current regime is merely rebranding projects initiated by the previous Congress government, while BJP/RSS leadership is held responsible for the ongoing hardships faced by Kashmiris.