Mirpur, (AJK): Kashmiris across Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Indian illegally occupied Jammu Kashmir (IIOJK), and globally observed “Kashmir’s Accession to Pakistan Day” on Friday. The day was marked by public holidays in AJK, grand rallies, and seminars aimed at renewing the commitment to the Kashmiri struggle for self-determination and accession to Pakistan.

According to Kashmir Media Service announcement issued on 19 July 2024, the observance commemorates the July 19, 1947, resolution adopted by the All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference at Sardar Muhammad Ibrahim Khan’s Srinagar residence. This historic resolution demanded that the entire Jammu and Kashmir state accede to Pakistan, a cause that has been upheld annually with fervor by Kashmiris.

Throughout AJK, ceremonies saw participation from diverse civil society sections, emphasizing solidarity with Pakistan and reaffirming the pledge to realize the dream of accession based on the 1947 resolution. Special prayers were held in mosques for the liberation of all occupied Muslim lands, including Indian-held Jammu Kashmir and Palestine, and for the souls of those who died in the struggle against Indian rule.

In Mirpur, a significant rally featured speakers who criticized Indian policies and actions in IIOJK, especially since the controversial repeal of Article 370 on August 5, 2019, which stripped the region of its special status. They condemned the ongoing state terrorism and genocide against Kashmiri Muslims by Indian forces, highlighting a persistent resistance against Indian authority and a commitment to determining their future.