Islamabad, A webinar hosted by Friends of Kashmir International and Kashmir Media Service in Islamabad criticized the celebration of India’s Republic Day in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). Speakers at the event declared the day as Black Day for Kashmiris, citing continuous oppression by Indian troops in the region for over seven decades.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the webinar aimed to shed light on the Indian atrocities in the occupied territory. The speakers accused the Narendra Modi-led Indian government of employing brutal tactics against Kashmiris and minorities in India. They argued that due to the ongoing suppression and human rights violations in IIOJK, the Indian government lacks the moral right to celebrate its Republic Day in the region.

The webinar highlighted the intensification of brutalities by occupational troops during Indian national days like Republic Day and Independence Day, causing additional suffering for the people of IIOJK. The speakers asserted that India, despite its democratic claims, acts as an aggressor in Kashmir, denying the local population their right to self-determination.

The genocide of Kashmiris was presented as evidence against the facade of Indian democracy. The speakers pointed out the miserable conditions faced by Kashmiris and minorities in India, particularly Muslims, under the Modi regime. They emphasized the Kashmiri people’s outright rejection of India’s Republic Day and their continued struggle for freedom.

The discussion also appealed to the United Nations to recognize Indian state terrorism in IIOJK and to facilitate the resolution of the Kashmir dispute, granting the Kashmiri people their right to self-determination. The speakers highlighted the discrepancy between India’s portrayal as a democracy and its actions in Jammu and Kashmir, where fundamental rights are being violated.

The webinar concluded with the sentiment that observing Indian Republic Day as Black Day is a strong message to the world, reflecting the Kashmiri people’s desire for freedom from Indian occupation. The list of speakers included prominent figures like Ali Raza Syed, Chairman of Kashmir Council Europe, Dr. Mubeen Shah, Chairman of Kashmir House, Turkey, and Dr. Zarqa Suharwardy Taimur, a parliamentarian, among others.