Indian diaspora in Houston celebrates 80th Independence Day with patriotic fervour

Muzaffarabad: Kashmiri activists organized demonstrations across Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on Saturday, marking India's Independence Day as a "Black Day." The main event was held in the state capital, Muzaffarabad, and organized by the All Parties Hurriyat Conference's AJK chapter. Participants carried black flags, banners, and placards, marching through the city's main streets and shouting anti-India slogans, demanding the implementation of relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.

The rally was led by APHC convener Ghulam Mohammad Safi, who highlighted Aug 15 as a "Black Day" for Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control. He emphasized that Kashmiri people reject Indian occupation and demand complete freedom, accusing New Delhi of using military force to suppress political and democratic rights of Kashmiris.

Other speakers, including Sheikh Jameel-ur-Rehman, Advocate Parvez Ahmed Shah, and Uzair Ahmed Ghazali, reiterated that India had lost any moral justification to celebrate its independence while denying Kashmiris their right to self-determination. They argued that the Jammu and Kashmir dispute should be resolved through the free will of its people, and that the struggle would continue until Indian occupation ended, as committed to Kashmiris by UN resolutions.

The demonstrations across AJK aimed to draw international attention to the Kashmir dispute, with organizers reiterating their commitment to a peaceful political and democratic struggle for their rights.