Islamabad, (Parliament Times ) : Altaf Ahmed Bhat, senior member of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) and Chairman of the Jammu & Kashmir Salvation Movement, has issued a strong condemnation of India’s upcoming Independence Day celebration, particularly within the context of the Kashmir conflict.
In a statement released today, Chairman JKSM Altaf Ahmed Bhat unequivocally asserts that India’s celebration of its Independence Day within the Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJ&K) is both inappropriate and unjust. Bhat’s perspective underscores the principles of justice, international law, and the fundamental rights of the Kashmiri people.
Highlighting the deep-rooted nature of the Kashmir conflict, Bhat underscores that more than 500,000 Kashmiris have tragically lost their lives in the pursuit of freedom. He stresses that this loss of life underscores the undeniable quest for self-determination that the Kashmiri people have maintained for decades.
Bhat further elucidates that after the abrogation of Article 370 and 35A, on August, 05, 2019, India has intensified its grip on IIOJ&K, ushering in a reign of terror upon the Kashmiri population. He asserts that these actions reflect an attempt to suppress and punish Kashmiris for their unwavering demand for their right to self-determination, as stipulated in United Nations resolutions.
While drawing attention to the ongoing human rights abuses in Indian-administered Kashmir, including target killings, torture, destruction of properties and other forms of violence that have intensified since the abrogation. Bhat contends that this reality starkly contradicts the principles of democracy and human rights that India purports to uphold.
He emphasized that the Kashmiri people’s demand for self-determination is not an isolated or new claim. It is a fundamental right acknowledged by the international community, including the United Nations.
He called upon the international community to recognize the plight of Kashmiris and to encourage a peaceful and just resolution to the Kashmir conflict. Bhat underscores that this resolution should respect the rights and aspirations of the Kashmiri people and be guided by the principles of justice, international law, and human rights.
