Muzaffarabad, Today marks the observance of Right to Self-Determination Day by Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control and globally, as they reaffirm their commitment to securing their internationally recognized right to self-determination.

According to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the call for this observance was made by the All Parties Hurriyat Conference. This day is rooted in historical significance, dating back to January 5, 1949, when the UN Security Council passed a resolution endorsing the right of Kashmiris to determine their own future through a UN-supervised plebiscite. Despite over seven decades since the resolutions of August 13, 1948, and January 5, 1949, the UN has yet to implement concrete steps to actualize these commitments.

The situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir has deteriorated, particularly since August 5, 2019, following the revocation of the territory’s special status by the Indian government led by Narendra Modi. This move has resulted in increased hardships for the Kashmiri people.

Numerous Kashmiri leaders, including APHC Chairman Masarrat Aalam Butt, Shabbir Ahmed Shah, Muhammad Yasin Malik, Aasiya Andrabi, and Nayeem Ahmed Khan, remain imprisoned in Indian jails.

In Azad Jammu and Kashmir, various activities including protests, rallies, seminars, and other programs are being conducted in all districts to draw global attention to the plight of Kashmiris in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Specifically, in Muzaffarabad, Hurriyat organizations like Pasban-e-Hurriyat have organized rallies at Shaheed Burhan Muzaffarwani Chowk, culminating in a march towards the UN Observer Mission Office.

These events underscore the ongoing struggle of the Kashmiri people for self-determination and the need for international intervention in addressing their long-standing grievances.