Srinagar: Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control and around the world marked January 5 as Right to Self-Determination Day, reaffirming their commitment to the pursuit of freedom through a plebiscite promised by the United Nations.

According to Kashmir Media Service, this observance marks the anniversary of the United Nations Security Council resolution passed on January 5, 1949, which supports the Kashmiris’ right to determine their future through a UN-sponsored plebiscite. Multiple events, including rallies, seminars, and conferences, took place globally to remind the UN of its responsibility to implement these resolutions and address the ongoing suffering of Kashmiris facing Indian oppression for decades.

The All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) has called upon the global community, especially the United Nations, to uphold its commitment to enabling the Kashmiri people to exercise their right to self-determination. The statement from APHC underscores the deteriorating situation in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir, where the Indian government, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has reportedly escalated state repression since August 5, 2019. Reports of arbitrary arrests, economic difficulties, and denial of fundamental rights have deepened the region’s distress.

The APHC has appealed to the international community to intervene and stop what it describes as the ongoing genocide of Kashmiris, urging India to resolve the conflict in line with UN resolutions.