Hundreds of people rallied in Pakistan-administered Kashmir on Tuesday, chanting anti-India slogans to mark the sixth anniversary of India’s decision to revoke the region’s semi-autonomous status.
The protests come nearly three months after a flare-up between India and Pakistan, which exchanged military fire following a mass shooting in Indian-administered Kashmir. India accused Pakistan of involvement, a claim Islamabad denied. The incident raised fears of escalation before global powers stepped in to ease tensions.
Demonstrators condemned the August 5, 2019, move by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government to remove Kashmir’s special constitutional status. Protesters called for the restoration of statehood to the region, which remains disputed between the two nuclear-armed neighbors since their independence from Britain in 1947.
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The main rally in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, was attended by members of civil society and various political groups. Mazhar Saeed Shah, a senior figure in the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, urged the international community to uphold United Nations resolutions and support Kashmiris’ right to self-determination.
In Islamabad, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar reiterated Pakistan’s political and diplomatic support for the Kashmiri people, describing India’s control of the territory as “illegal occupation.”
Meanwhile, in Srinagar — the main city in Indian-administered Kashmir — members of India’s opposition Congress party held a separate rally, demanding the reinstatement of the region’s statehood.
Source: Agency