Seminar marks sixth anniversary of Article 370 revocation, reaffirms solidarity with Kashmiris
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: To mark the sixth anniversary of India’s unilateral revocation of Articles 370 and 35-A, the Institute of Regional Studies (IRS) Islamabad hosted a high-level seminar titled “Unheard Struggle of IIOJK After Article 370”, drawing together parliamentarians, defence experts, Kashmiri leaders, and civil society members to reaffirm Pakistan’s unwavering support for the Kashmiri people.
The seminar served as a solemn tribute to the resilience of the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) in the face of continued repression since August 5, 2019, when New Delhi revoked the region’s special constitutional status.
IRS President and former ambassador Jauhar Saleem called India’s move “a blatant violation of international law” and described it as a calculated attempt at demographic engineering and identity erasure. He said despite lockdowns, detentions, and heavy militarization, India had failed to break the Kashmiri spirit.
Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Kashmir, Rana Muhammad Qasim Noon, termed Kashmir “a sacred national cause” and stressed that peace in South Asia was impossible without resolving the issue in line with UN Security Council resolutions. He praised the Pakistani military’s response during the May 2025 escalation, calling it a moment that reshaped the region’s strategic dynamics.
Former AJK Minister Farzana Yaqoob proposed observing August 5 as a national “Day of Courage” in honor of Kashmiri resilience. She also urged Pakistan to take legal action against India in international forums for its ongoing human rights abuses.
Other speakers, including Sardar Fatehullah Khan Miankhel, Sheikh Abdul Mateen of the Hurriyat Conference, and Kashmiri activist Abdul Hameed Lone, condemned what they termed India’s “constitutional terrorism.” They highlighted cases of arrests, torture, and extrajudicial killings in IIOJK, emphasizing that the Kashmiri struggle was not merely political but a fight for identity, freedom, and justice.
The seminar concluded with a unanimous resolution declaring August 5 a symbol of Kashmiri resistance. It called for a unified civil-military approach to amplify the Kashmir cause globally and to expose Indian atrocities in the occupied region.
“The Kashmiri freedom struggle is part of a larger global movement against oppression — from South Africa to Palestine to Bosnia,” the resolution read. “History stands with those who resist tyranny. Kashmir will be free.”
