Islamabad: Today, as India celebrates its Independence Day, Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control and around the globe are observing it as a ‘Black Day’. The day is highlighted by a complete shutdown in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, aiming to signal to the international community that New Delhi has no legitimate right to celebrate the occasion in the region.
According to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the call for the shutdown has left the Kashmir valley deserted, with local residents displaying black flags on their rooftops, street poles, and trees to symbolize mourning and protest. The India-installed authorities have responded by turning the valley into a tightly controlled military zone, setting up checkpoints and barricades at all major intersections.
In Brussels, demonstrators are gathering in front of the Indian Embassy to protest, marking the day with public expressions of dissent. Similarly, in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, cities and districts are hosting anti-India rallies and public gatherings, with significant participation across the region.
In Muzaffarabad, a notable protest rally organized by Pasban-e-Hurriyat took place in front of the central press club, where participants waved black flags and carried banners denouncing India’s illegal occupation. Uzair Ahmad Ghazali, the chairman of Pasban e Hurriyet, spoke at the rally, reaffirming the commitment to support the Kashmiri struggle for self-determination and calling on international bodies and the United Nations to intervene and halt the Indian state’s alleged war crimes in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).