MIRPUR (AJK)
The 83rd Kashmir Martyrs’ Day was observed on Sunday with the renewal of the pledge to continue the martyrs’ mission for the achievement of the right to self-determination and liberation of the valley from India.
Special gatherings were held in various parts of occupied and Azad Kashmir and rest of the world to observe the day. Symposia and meetings were the hallmark of the Kashmir Martyrs Day.
In Azad Jammu Kashmir, the Day came as a sign of a new hope. If India agrees to the ground realities without any reservations and learns a lesson from the historical facts that New Delhi cannot rule the Kashmiris by force, there shall be a lasting peace and prosperity in the region.
A major ceremony to mark the day was held in the capital city of Muzaffarabad under the auspices of the Kashmir Liberation Cell to pay rich tributes to the Kashmiri martyrs. Speakers on the occasion called for early peaceful settlement of the Kashmir issue in line with the international norms and commitments under the UN resolutions.
The speakers underlined that the people of Jammu and Kashmir from both the sides of the LoC have attached great hopes of the resumption of composite Pak-India talks vis-à-vis the resolution of the much-delayed Kashmir problem in line with the aspirations of its basic stakeholders.
Seminars to pay rich tributes to Kashmiri martyrs were arranged at various places in AJK. Special meetings were also held in all 10 district headquarters including Mirpur, Muzaffarabad, Kotli, Bagh, Rawalakot, Sudhanoti, Neelam valley, Haveili, Hattiyan and Bhimbher and all other small and major towns and cities.
Addressing these functions, speakers paid rich tributes to the Kashmiris martyrs of 1931 who were gunned down by the then Dogra rulers outside the Central Jail Srinagar for raising voice for the liberation of the motherland from the Dogra yoke. It was on this day in 1931 when the Dogra troops had shot dead 22 Kashmiris in front of the Central Jail Srinagar. A large number of people had gathered outside the jail protesting against the trial of young man Abdul Qadeer for treason inside the prison.
In occupied Kashmir, complete strike-like situation prevailed as curfew continued to prevent Kashmiris from observing the Kashmir Martyrs. The call for observing the day was given by various pro-freedom parties including the major alliance - the All Parties Hurriyat Conference chief Mir Waiz Omer Farooq and the forum led by senior Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Gillani. The Kashmir Martyrs day programmes in the occupied valley were followed by anti-India and pro-freedom rallies across the held state especially in the Muslim-majority areas of the strife-ridden held valley, says a report reaching here Sunday from across the Line of Control.
In occupied Srinagar and other parts of the held state, a large number of people, defying restrictions imposed by the Indian occupation forces, visited mazar-e-shuhada in processions, says a report reaching here Tuesday from across the line of control.
The Kashmiris engaged in struggle against the Indian forces on the other part of the Line of Control observed complete strike in every nook and corner of the Indian held Kashmir. They pledged to fight till the implementation of the UN resolutions which had pledged for the Kashmiris the right to self-determination, with a free and fair plebiscite under its aegis and was subsequently acknowledged even by the Indian leaders. But it remains unfulfilled to-date only due to abrupt changes in the Indian postures and its continued intransigence in the Indian held territory, setting aside all global norms and decency and ethics.
The Kashmiris re-affirmed their up-right determination to go on with it until UN pledge with Kashmiris is fulfilled. Pakistan’s just and principled stand on Kashmir issue is well-known, well established, well acknowledged. The Kashmir issue needs to be solved through a simple parameter that is the implementation of the UN resolutions on Kashmir and reflect the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
Each and every civilised nation, which believes in realities backs the viewpoint and has never been hoodwinked by the Indian tactics and postures on the issue. That is why events of July 13 all over the State of Jammu and Kashmir were marked by thanks to Pakistan and prayers for paving the way not only for the end of long tyrannical rule in India held Kashmir but also for vistas of peace in this part of the world.
The solution of Kashmir problem in accordance with the UN resolution is the only gate-way for mutual cooperation between the two countries in other fields, observers believe. In case India insists for mutual cooperation before the solution of the Kashmir issue, it shall mean “putting a cart before the horse” which will serve no purpose, they added.
Political observers at both the sides of Line of Control were of the view that Prime Minister Narindra Modi-led regime must accept the views of Pakistan which has been constantly seeking result-oriented dialogues with India to resolve all outstanding disputes especially the core issue of Kashmir and which is also a desire of the international community.