MUZAFFARABAD: Anti-India protest demonstrations were held in several cities and towns of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) as well as in the federal capital on Monday with participants highlighting the glaring contradiction between India’s repeated claims of being the ‘largest democracy’ and the denial of fundamental rights in occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

The protests, which coincided with India’s Republic Day, were organised under the aegis of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), the AJK government and organisations representing Kashmiri refugees. A large number of citizens, government employees and refugees attended the demonstrations.

In Muzaffarabad, two separate protests were held at different locations. The first took place at Burhan Wani Chowk and was organised by Pasban-i-Hurriyat Jammu Kashmir (PHJK). Participants, wearing black armbands, waved black flags alongside national and state flags, while chanting slogans calling for freedom and questioning India’s democratic credentials.

Chants of “What do we want? Freedom” and “Calling India a democracy is an insult to democracy” continued to echo during the demonstration.

Citizens, govt employees and refugees attend demonstrations in several cities of AJK as well as in Islamabad

Addressing the gathering, PHJK chairman Uzair Ahmed Ghazali maintained that the political and human rights situation in occupied Kashmir was inconsistent with India’s claims of being a democratic state.

He cited figures related to civilian deaths, arrests, detentions, injuries caused by pellet guns and the existence of unmarked graves since 1989, and called upon the United Nations to take practical steps towards resolving the Kashmir dispute.

Around 100 yards away, another public gathering was held at the District Headquarters Complex under the auspices of the APHC and the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Commission (JKLC).

Among those present were former AJK prime minister and PML-N leader Raja Farooq Haider, APHC Secretary General Parvez Ahmed Shah, Mayor of Muzaffarabad Syed Sikandar Gillani, Secretary for Kashmir Cause and Archives Ansar Yaqoob, Muhajireen Numainda Forum president Ghulam Hassan Butt, as well as political and social activists, lawyers, journalists, women and civil society members.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Haider referred to remarks attributed to Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval about “avenging history” and described them as indicative of India’s regional outlook.

He said that greater political unity was required to advance the Kashmiri cause towards success and to seek the region’s accession to Pakistan. He reiterated his view that AJK served as a base for the movement, and that people on both sides of the Line of Control would continue their struggle to evict India from the occupied territory.

APHC Secretary General Shah maintained that Pakistan was a benefactor of Kashmiris, supporting a just resolution of the Kashmir issue in line with their wishes, while India was an enemy of Kashmiris, maintaining illegal occupation of their motherland.

He asserted that all three regions of the erstwhile princely state wanted accession to Pakistan. Mr Shah rejected the impression that the Kashmir issue had ended, saying the freedom movement would continue until the people achieved their right to self-determination.

He urged the international community to facilitate meaningful dialogue involving India, Pakistan and Kashmiri representatives to help ensure long-term peace in the region.

Similar demonstrations were also held at district and tehsil headquarters in other parts of AJK.

Islamabad

In the federal capital, an anti-India demonstration was led by senior APHC leader Mahmood Ahmed Saghar.

Addressing participants, he acknowledged Pakistan’s political and diplomatic support for the Kashmiri cause and called for greater international engagement on the dispute.

Referring to the resolution of other prolonged conflicts, Mr Saghar questioned why the Kashmir issue had remained unresolved despite decades of international discussion.

The participants reaffirmed their commitment to continue raising the Kashmir issue at national and international forums.

Published in Dawn, January 27th, 2026