Kashmiris observe Black Day on India’s Republic Day

Kashmiris across the Line of Control and worldwide observed India’s Republic Day as Black Day today. This observance serves as a reminder of New Delhi’s continued denial of the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination, contradicting its claim of being a democratic republic.

The All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) and other pro-freedom organizations gave the call for marking this day as Black Day. A complete shutdown was observed in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) as a symbolic protest to highlight the misleading narrative of India’s democracy.

APHC leaders in Srinagar stated that India has no moral right to celebrate its Republic Day in a region it has occupied against the will of its people. They appealed to the international community to pressure India to fulfil its promises of granting Kashmiris their right to self-determination.

Protests were also held in several cities worldwide. In Islamabad, the APHC-Azad Kashmir chapter staged a rally outside the Indian High Commission, while in Brussels, Kashmiris and their supporters braved rain to hold a peaceful demonstration outside the Indian Embassy.