Islamabad, The Kashmir Festival and Kashmir Conference held at Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai Auditorium in Islamabad has focused on promoting tourism and peace in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The event, organized by Kashmiri students from the International Islamic University Islamabad under the Jammu and Kashmir Students Organization and in partnership with Kashmir Media Service, gathered political and Hurriyat leaders to discuss various issues affecting the region.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the festival was partly a response to what organizers describe as negative propaganda by India, aiming to showcase the cultural richness and tourism potential of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Notable figures such as Altaf Hussain Wani, Zafar Qureshi, and Syed Mujahid Gilani participated, discussing the ongoing challenges in occupied Kashmir and strategies to prevent further deterioration of the situation.
The conference also featured cultural expressions, including a Mushaira and performances of Kashmiri music, highlighting the region’s artistic heritage. These elements were designed to provide a fuller picture of Kashmir’s cultural identity and disputes, beyond the conflict-focused representation often seen internationally.