Kotli (Azad Kashmir): A new wave of repression has emerged in Azad Kashmir (Pakistan administrated Kashmir), where expressing one’s identity and autonomy as Kashmiris is now being treated as a criminal act. On February 5, the occasion of Kashmir Solidarity Day, government officials forced students in a school in the village of Sarda Manjoman, near Kotli, to chant slogans like “We are Pakistanis, Pakistan is ours.” This move has sparked widespread public outrage. The students were pressured by schoolteachers and government officials to participate in these chants.
Nabeel Kashmiri, leader of the Jammu Kashmir National Freedom Alliance, asked the students who had forced them to shout these slogans. The students revealed that they had been coerced by teachers and government officials. In response, Nabeel Kashmiri simply stated, “We are Kashmiris, and we speak for our sovereign state of Jammu and Kashmir.”
When the truth came to light, the state machinery could not tolerate this and, through the DEO (District Education Officer) of Kotli, a false FIR was filed against Nabeel Kashmiri, accusing him of inciting children against the state.
The filing of this FIR has been strongly condemned, and there are calls for its immediate withdrawal. If Nabeel Kashmiri or anyone else is arrested based on this false case, it will provoke a strong public reaction.
New Restrictions on Kashmir’s Identity and Autonomy
Citizens of Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan are constitutionally not considered citizens of Pakistan, yet recent events show that the local government has unilaterally imposed restrictions on Kashmiris’ identity and autonomy. Local political leaders and public figures have emphasized that Kashmiris will not compromise on their identity and autonomy.
There is a growing expectation of a strong public response if Nabeel Kashmiri is arrested. This incident could mark a new phase in the struggle for freedom and autonomy in Kashmir, bringing to the forefront various political and social issues within the region.
The Call for Kashmir’s Freedom Grows Louder
The Jammu Kashmir National Freedom Alliance and other political parties are calling for the immediate withdrawal of the false case, urging respect for the rights and freedoms of Kashmiris. Nabeel Kashmiri and his supporters have stated that if anyone is arrested based on this baseless case, it will lead to a massive public outcry and further amplify the call for Kashmiris’ freedom.
This incident has once again demonstrated that the struggle for Kashmiris’ identity and autonomy is not just geographically significant but also a political and human right that needs to be recognized on the global stage. This new political development in Kashmir is gaining international attention, as the people of Kashmir prepare to raise their voices for their rights.
Kashmiris have always emphasized the importance of their identity and autonomy, and following this incident, their voices will only grow louder. The demand for the withdrawal of false cases against Nabeel Kashmiri and other Kashmiri leaders will mark a new chapter in the ongoing struggle for Kashmir’s freedom.