Srinagar: Kashmiris across both sides of the Line of Control, throughout Pakistan, and globally are set to observe Youm-e-Istehsal-e-Kashmir tomorrow. This day of protest marks the anniversary of the Indian government’s controversial revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status on August 5, 2019.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government’s action not only contravened United Nations resolutions and international laws but also initiated an extensive military lockdown in the region. The move abolished Article 370, ending the autonomy that had been a cornerstone of Jammu and Kashmir’s accession to India.

The All Parties Hurriyat Conference, including leaders like Massarat Alam Butt and Shabbir Ahmed Shah who are currently incarcerated, has called for the observance of Black Day to underline their rejection of the Indian policies and ongoing violations in the region. They highlighted the continuous siege and oppressive conditions imposed by the Indian authorities, which they claim have transformed the area into a “torture chamber.”

Further statements from APHC leaders in Srinagar and Islamabad have echoed these sentiments, describing the Indian government’s actions as colonial and accusing it of attempting to alter the demographic makeup of the majority-Muslim region. The leaders stressed the significance of August 5 as a grim reminder of the threats to their national identity and the existential challenges faced by the Kashmiri people.

The observance of Youm-e-Istehsal-e-Kashmir is a call to the international community to acknowledge and respond to the ongoing crisis in Kashmir, emphasizing the region’s struggle for self-determination and the restoration of their rights as per historical agreements and international commitments.