Hurriyat Leaders Reaffirm Kashmir’s Right to Self-Determination Ahead of July 19 Accession to Pakistan Day
Independent Report
ISLAMABAD, July 18: Hurriyat leaders have described July 19 as a historic day in the political history of Jammu and Kashmir, saying it symbolizes the Kashmiri people’s longstanding political, historical and ideological relationship with Pakistan as well as their continued commitment to the internationally recognized right to self-determination.
According to a press release issued by the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan, the leaders said the Accession to Pakistan Resolution, adopted by the All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference on July 19, 1947, reflected the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The statement added that Kashmiris have continued their struggle for the right to self-determination for the past 78 years despite what it described as political repression, military presence and human rights violations in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir.
The APHC statement said India’s constitutional changes of August 5, 2019, along with alleged demographic measures, land policies, arrests of political activists and restrictions on freedom of expression, could not alter the internationally recognized status of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. It reiterated that a peaceful and lasting settlement of the issue should be achieved in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, enabling the people of Jammu and Kashmir to exercise their right to self-determination.
The statement also urged the United Nations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the international community to take notice of the alleged human rights situation in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir and play an effective role in supporting a peaceful resolution of the dispute.
The Hurriyat leaders appealed to Kashmiris, particularly the youth, to observe July 19 – Accession to Pakistan Day with unity and determination, pay tribute to those who lost their lives in the Kashmir movement and reaffirm their commitment to the cause of self-determination.
