New York: A significant protest by Kashmiri-Americans and their allies took place in Times Square, New York, where participants denounced human rights violations in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir and called for the implementation of the UN’s right to self-determination for the region’s people.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the demonstration, organized by various Kashmiri-American diaspora organizations, marked the fifth anniversary of what participants described as a brutal siege of Jammu and Kashmir by Indian forces. Protesters, who gathered despite inclement weather, expressed their disapproval of India’s actions on August 5, 2019, when the Indian government annexed the region, intensifying the crisis there. The rally featured numerous signs and slogans, underscoring the demonstrators’ demand for international attention to the plight of the Kashmiri people and condemning the ongoing Indian military presence.
Speakers at the event included Dr. Imtiaz Khan, who emphasized the significant date of August 5, 2019, when India revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, further complicating the situation. Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai highlighted the severe consequences of Indian rule in the region, including widespread civilian casualties and violations of human rights. Imam Saffet Catovic called for a humane resolution to the conflict, comparing the situation in Kashmir to that in Palestine and urging global consciousness on these issues.
The protest underscored the solidarity among Kashmiri-Americans and their determination to keep international focus on their homeland’s struggle for freedom and self-determination, resisting India’s military strategies. Advocates like Sardar Taj Khan and others reiterated the call for recognition of human rights abuses as war crimes, demanding accountability and a peaceful resolution based on UN resolutions.
The event at Times Square was not just a protest but a reminder of the ongoing international debates over the fate of Jammu and Kashmir and the broader implications for peace and justice in global conflicts.