Protesters at Liberty Chowk in Lahore. PHOTO: ABID NAWAZ
In Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistani-administered Kashmir, around 1,000 people formed a human chain to express solidarity with what they called freedom fighters in the Indian-administered sector.
In Islamabad around 2,000 people attended a rally organised by the religious-political party Jamaat-i-Islami in front of parliament.
A separate demonstration in the capital was led by Jamiat Ulema Islam-Samiul Haq group (JUI-S) chief Maulana Samiul Haq, who heads a committee set up by Taliban militants for peace talks with the government.
In Karachi, protesters burnt Indian flags and chanted slogans calling for the liberation of Kashmir.
About a dozen rebel groups have been fighting Indian forces since 1989 either for Kashmir's independence or for its merger with Pakistan.
Use of force by India in Kashmir has killed tens of thousands of people, mostly civilians. Though the killing has dipped this decade but India says militants inflicted a heavy toll on their security forces in 2013.
Pakistan and Kashmiris stage protest rallies on February 5 every year to express solidarity with the struggle.
Various events were also staged by Pakistani missions abroad to highlight the plight of Kashmiris.
Watch a slideshow of pictures from rallies in Pakistan here.
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kashmir resolution-
The resolution recommended that in order to ensure the impartiality of the plebiscite Pakistan withdraw all tribesmen and nationals who entered the region for the purpose of fighting and that India leave only the minimum number of troops needed to keep civil order. The Commission was also to send as many observers into the region as it deemed necessary to ensure the provisions of the resolution were enacted. Pakistan ignored the UN mandate, did not withdraw its troops and claimed the withdrawal of Indian forces was a prerequisite as per this resolution.[5] Subsequently Pakistan refused to implement the plebiscite until India accedes to it and continued holding on to the portion of Kashmir under its control.
Pakistanis don't care about Kashmir anyways. Its just a politicians baby to play with whenever required. Pakistanis need electricity, gas, food, potable water and health care. Do that and stay in the government for another hundred years. But first deliver.
1.Kashmir has muslims,buddhist, hindus and sikhs , so it should be in Secular India and not in Islamic republic. 2.The Ethnic and sectarian tensions in Pakistan prove that nation on basis of religion can be a failure. 3.India has 3rd largest population muslims in world and muslims have represented in all walk of spheres in India be it defense, administration, politics, films, sports etc. 4.India has made good economic, health and social progress in comparison to Pakistan. 5 Is AJK really an independent state recognized by International community, India did make East Pakistan an independent state and is AJK is any better than Jammu and Kashmir. 6. Militancy sponsored by Pakistan have ruined lives of Kashmiri youth and destroyed homes. had pakistan not send so called mujahideens foreign fighters , there would not have been need for Indian army. The first attack in 1948 was also initiated by pakistan using pathans.
If you ask me, Pakistan needs a Kashmir Day each month. At least then, you might have a fighting chance. As it stands, you might need Pakistan Day more often.
ET : Where is my reply to Rex Minor ?
@Syed Jalal Kashmiri then please migrate to POK, why are you wasting the huge amount of subsidies that are being paid by my income Tax(and Millions like me). If you do not feel Indian the i will particularly highly appreciate if you will move out of Kashmir & resettle in Karachi or Queta or Baluchistan maybe. However let me tell you Jalal sahib, People like you are really in minority in Kashmir India is secular country and for my self i belong from the same DEEN. Let me hope for a peacfull relations bw India and Pakistan
@Rex Minor: " ... This is what is in the scriptures and this is exactly what will transpire. ... "
You sound like a recent convert.
@Gurion: You are comparing Balochistan's matters with Kasmir issue...? All i can say is, Hahahahaa @Raj - USA: Non of your Business mate - Go look into your OWN internal matters first.
ET : My answer to Rex minor is on exactly the same grounds on which he answered, So pl publish Rex Minor : As I have said, the rapes and violence against women in India is not something new, but with the online media, TV and public awareness, the visibility of the same is very high and demands for action against such crimes is also very high. Fortunately India does not demand 4 adult witnesses to such crimes and hence reporting of these crimes are high. That does not break a nation. Only a hate and violence against minorities as a whole, state's genocide against their own citizens etc breaks nations, India does not figure out anywhere on these crimes, Your comment has added lots of meaning to your views with just two lines. I am not neutral but biased in favour of muslims, This is what is in the scriptures and this is exactly what will transpire. Believe in whatever you want, but nothing of that kind will happen. According to our scriptures, the world will come to end as the Kaliyug nears its ends. That will bring not only India down but also Pakistan, US , USSR and China and the rest of the world. This is more likely to happen with the degraded environments, ozone holes and other climatic factors than India imploding within, which is more of a wishful thinking by you.
You are funny. Irony is this is coming from already imploded country and on the verge of second implosion. I will bet on it that India cannot implode bec it has no force strong enough to sub service other. India is not user. Let's put bet on it. 65 years has passed for your hope of India to implode. What is the timeline according to you? It just shows your jealousy. You keep awaiting this day and die but do not forget to pass on this hope to your next generation. @Rex Minor:
@Rex Minor: Kuchh baat hai ke hasti mit-ti nahin hamari/ Sadiyon raha hai dushman daur-e-jahan hamara......written by Iqbal....very apt for India. Need I say more?
Et Mod. these readers have the right to have an answer, if you reckon it is appropriate. I am not neutral but biased in favour of muslims, @Virkaul: @vasan: @Lolistan:
There have been severl civilisations in the Indian sub-continent, some with a superior life style than the one that todays Indians enjoy, some leaving no plausible explanation of their downfall and demise. India will definitely implode, because it has not the legitamacy to survive. Granted that it has implanted foreign constitution and have more or less a democracy with adequate administration laws, but its ancient avatar culture and sheer greed for wealth prohibits its growth. You must learn to live and die for others and not alone for for Bharata!. Your women are fed up with your Bharata and are appearing on BBC programmes declaring that they cannot take it any more. Every 20 minutes a Rape and sterilisation of women to prevent unwanted population growth, are inhuman acts and violate the dignity of women. India will disintegrate not because of foreign invasions but on account of their own will and desire. look at the world wonders within India and not only mosques but other buildings will fall prey to your grandeur.. This is what is in the scriptures and this is exactly what will transpire.
Rex Minor
@Asad Khan
Talking about brainwashing, do YOU know all the clauses of the UN resolution? Or for that matter do you understand the Shimla agreement, which was signed by your state as well, which nullifies any UN resolution?
If there is , in your words, "no HOT conflict" going on then who is demanding the self determination, Pakistanis or Kashmiris? If Kashmiris are coming out to vote for the election, it gives a good idea that they believe in Indian system, otherwise why would they not listen to the boycott called by a few separatists?
If you are concerned about azadi of Kashmiris why not start with POK. Give them a plebiscite to decide if they want to be truly azad and not remain part of Pakistan. Maybe then the world will listen to your demands a little better. How about first following the same principle yourself AND then demanding the same from Indians. Hypocrisy anyone?!
UN resolution clearly states Pakistan has to pull out all troops including proxy's out of J &K and hand it over to Indian Army. One and only then India can hold elections. Pakistanis are scared if elections are held not even a single Kashmir citizen will vote to stay with Pakistan. Pakistan will loose whatever they have now, they just like to continue the drama, whole world knows about it and that's the reason nobody pays attention to this drama
SImilar solidarity was required for East pakistan..
The posters say pray for muslims in Kashmir.
So you mean to say, you don't want hindus, sikhs and buddhists who live in Kashmir?
And what about gujjars, shias and ahmediyas , who also are part of kashmir.
Finalyy, will you allow all hindus who were thrown out of Kashmir, to return.
@ZAK: freed
The solidarity day is celebrated to to show the support to the just and basic demands of Kashmiris to decide the right of self determination as Agreed by Indian PM Nehru and approved by UN.
Its not about Kashmirs joining Pakistan or India, its giving them their basic right of self determination. Let alone Kashmiris to decide, whether they want India, Pak or their Independent State. Whatever the decision, Kashmiris take should be accepted by both India and Pakistan.
The media hold on the narrative of Kashmir in Pakistan is so strong that only one narrative is heard.
For instance no media house in Pakistan will talk about how Free and Fair elections were held in Kashmir, even though the Seperatists called for boycott.
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB123048366626337803
80% voted in the last elections at the Panchayat level. That is much more than even places like Mumbai!!!
For instance, even the liberal ET with all its freedom, will not report this story.
http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/2013/Jun/7/as-tourist-arrivals-swell-kashmir-grapples-with-room-shortage-37.asp
When the opposing side is fed false data, it only works to our advantage. After all propaganda and brainwashing of Pakistanis will not harm India one bit, but will only contribute in radicalizing Pakistanis.
@Tariq: @Karachiwala:
Love your comments and fully agree with both you gentlemen. Too many holidays, excuses against daylight saving and energy conservation is driving us into a stupor of overconfidence. 'Aqal e Qul,' is another word. Frankly speaking, lets worry about consolidating our part of the 1947 bargain, recover outstanding taxes and loans, get serious on education and infrastructure, and build autonomous institutions and parastatal corporations (SECP, SBP, FBR, PEMRA, etc). After all this, it makes me wonder if the ball has rolled too far down the hill? Salams
@jay: good joke indian thousands of pashtun tribemen from balochistan helped liberate azad kashmir my grandfather being one of them
@Kolachi: Will it apply to Balochistan and to Pashtuns across both sides of the Durand?
@Rex Minor: If wishes were horses. You are trying old trick that failed in the past. You must remember, " The idea of India is stronger than the Indian and idea of Pakistan is weaker than the Pakistani"......MJ Akbar
Rex Minor; Pl keep waiting for the so called implosion of India. The wait may be endless. Inspite of the poverty, corruption etc etc, India is more cohesive than many nation states of the world. None of the issues of India are nation breaking, indeed some are nation making.
How about showing the same "solidarity" with the oppressed people of Balochistan who have been fighting for their rights to self-determination for the past six plus decades?
How can one shed tears for the Kashmiris and not care about the suffering of the Baloch who are a lot worse off than the Kashmiris?
HA HA HA HA HA !!!!! ;)
Let me see how many similar demonstrations there were in Arab countries? Oh, none. Right, because they don't give a damn.
Yet Pakistanis will go to any length to show solidarity with Palestine and the Arab world. We've based so much of our foreign policy on a region that couldn't care if we existed or not. Sad but true.
@Tariq: Tariq I am pakistani Kashmiri and I agree with u...i travel extensively abroard, have worked in Jammu and Kashmir and have come across many Kashmiris all over the world, even the Kashmiris from pakistani side now want independent. Most of the Kashmiris now just want independence from India and want to make their own country. I also want Kashmir to become independence. May Allah bless Kashmir.
So happy to see many Pakistanis skipping work, school, business to show support. I hope you have many such days. Such days are in India,s benefit. More such unproductive days and more your GDP declines. Lage raho !!
We have the freedom of thinking, but we do not have thoughts which are free of religious compulsions and fears.
@Pakistanis So you think these rallies will change facts? Please teach this fact in your schools that Kashmir is an integral part of India and Pakistanis are better off forgetting Kashmir.
We start with Kashmiris, shall we, cuz that is easy, cuz their are UN resolutions, no fixed border, UN mandates observer group, & what not, Okay, so let them (Kashmiris) decide their own fate. We will deal with Balochis, Sindhi, Pashtuns, Hazaras, etc, etc, when there is ever a UN resolution(s) on them also, okay darling?
I do believe you. I am a believer. Well, 60+ years & Paks are still carrying out (hot n cold, poor or rich, big/small) inspiring rallies & seminars. I can even give you a margin of a whole year.
(PS. Each and Every year a debate takes place in UN on Kashmir issue as well)
regards,
Meaningless exercise, these rallies are. Guys who are having war of words over it, don't stress yourself. Chill pill, nothing will emerge out of these.
@Tariq:
Point taken.
Hey you know what, why not call the bluff of Pakistan and conduct a plebiscite (as promised) and show the whole world that how much Enlighten, Prosperous & Wiser the residents of Kashmir actually are after 60+ years ruled by "Secular" Shining India?
Don't you think?
regards,
First of all all really admire ET for letting all people put their view. You are way better than many Indian media.
Second : This is what is going to damage Pakistan in long term. Because of these Kashmir Demands Pak faced 71 war and we all know what happened. Now think again , if you thin k if Pakistan will keep on showing this kind of interest in Kashmir , don't you think India will also reply the same in Baloochistan and many more.
Third : Give me one honest answer. If Pakistan and India would have become friend like Canada and USA in 1948 ( Right after Partition) . There would have not been any 1965 or 1972 or Bangladesh. You all please realize this was planned dirty games of western countries who never wanted us to become one good friend. Now count , who is paying here. Innocent Pakistani and Many Indians and above all a real honest Kashmiri ....
Pakistani's don't care about the Kashmiri people. Pakistani's just want the land.
Since when did Pakistani's care about human rights?
From East Pakistan, to Baluchistan to KPK to Afghanistan, the Pakistan government has blood on their hands.
Jammu and Kashmir acceded to India of its own free will. The signed documents of accession are there as proof. Now when is Pakistan going to vacate its intrusion of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir? That's the one point agenda as regards Jammu and Kashmir from the Indian side.
go ahead..! have a rally every day..who cares...
I am perplexed by amount of offensive post by Indian commentators. Pro Pakistan comments are hard to go through on ET.
@jay:
Free Indian Kashmir.... Punjab..... and North East
second attempt; @Kolachi:
I would'nt ignore the force of energy which comes out of the unsolicited street demonstartions which have only one demand of 'Freedom', for the people of Kashmir. Let us pray together that what we cherish and live the freedom for ourselves and our families and our children, let the kashmri people who have suffered too long under the occupation of the Indian army, also achieve it. Ameen!!
Rex Minor
I hope ET will allow my comment to be published.
I am grateful for the help and prayers extended by our blood brothers and sisters of Pakistan. I am proud that just as the Kashmiris have not surrendered to Indian bullying, that Pakistan also has not lost its love for Kashmiri people despite Indian threats and bombings.
I am from Indian occupied land in Kashmir, and I can tell you we have tears anytime we see Pakistanis support us. Kashmiris have no friends in this world more dear than Pakistani people. Allah bless you all. We love Pakistan.
Sheer waste of time. If Pakistanis have not figured out that India is not going to give them Kashmir, all I can say is " you guys are a bunch of fools". Pakistan is in no shape to fight a war with India and take Kashmir with or without their nuclear overhang. Parvez Musharaff and his generals learned that one fast when they set our on their Kargil adventure. Baniyas do fight and we do win wars. And Pakistanis by now must also know that for all the noises they make, no one on this planet really cares about their Kashmir problem. India is not Iraq or even Pakistan and therefore sanctions by the international community has zero effect on us. In short, do not waste your time and energy trying to whip this dead horse called Kashmir liberation. We are keeping Kashmir for ourselves and there is absolutely nothing more than a stupid Solidarity Day you can do abut it. Bye Bye.
@mohan: @Lolistan:
Be careful, the sikh genie has woken up and has suddenly become aware that the british force provided the trainingar when this happens. and assistance to the Indian army units massacre of the worshipping sikhs in their holiest of the temple. India will implode in the time of its own choosing, and I would'nt like to be somewhere near when this occurs.
Rex Minor
I can see a lady holding a playcard in the above posted picture which reads "pray for the muslims of Kashmir" That is funny because Kashmiri muslims are not dying unlike the Pakistani muslims are that too in explosions inside mosques done by fellow muslims. Massacres during ashura in rallies of Rawalpindi. Discriminatory targeted killing of Ahmediyas. Pillion riding is banned, phone services suspended during islamic festivities. Please pray for yourself, Keep out of Kashmir and the muslims and the hindus and the Christians and everyone else in Kashmir will be fine.