Calgary, Alberta: As the Group of Seven (G7) Summit kicked off in nearby Kananaskis, Alberta, hundreds of Kashmiris from across Canada gathered at Calgary’s City Hall to stage a peaceful and powerful demonstration. Organized by the Jammu and Kashmir Calgary Community in collaboration with UKPNP, NAP, and JKNAP‑Canada, the rally called on world leaders to fulfill the United Nations’ long-standing promise of a plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir, a right denied to millions for over 75 years.
The protest was intentionally held during the G7 Summit to maximize global visibility. Protesters assembled outside Calgary’s Municipal Plaza and City Hall, turning it into a symbolic stage for their demands. They carried banners and placards that read “Freedom, Dignity, Self‑Determination”, urging G7 nations to raise the Kashmir issue on the world stage.
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Organizers referred to it as the largest peaceful Kashmir protest ever held in downtown Calgary, with the aim to reignite international discourse around the Kashmir dispute. This peaceful protest served as a strategic reminder to world powers that Kashmiris have not forgotten their promised right.
Prominent Diaspora Leaders Speak Out
The rally featured speeches by several influential voices from the Kashmiri diaspora, including:
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Muhammad Riaz, President of UKPNP Canada
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Sardar Majid Ashfaq, President of NAP Canada
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Sardar Tahir Aziz, General Secretary of UKPNP North America
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Majid Ishfaq, President of JKNAP‑Canada and principal organizer
These leaders delivered impassioned appeals steeped in historical facts and human rights arguments.
A Call for Human Dignity
“For generations, the people of Jammu and Kashmir have lived not under governance, but under military rule. This is not a political conflict—it’s a denial of dignity. As G7 leaders gather here, we urge them to recognize our story for what it is: a human rights crisis screaming for urgent, just resolution.”
Silence is Complicity
“Silence is not neutrality—silence is complicity. We are not enemies of peace, we are proponents of justice. Kashmir must have its voice heard. A UN-led plebiscite is not just a political necessity—it’s a moral one.”
A Demand for Fairness
“We do not demand war—we demand fairness. Let our people decide their destiny. Withdraw military forces and send international observers. Let the truth speak.”
The Resolution
During the protest, Majid Ishfaq read out and passed a formal resolution, which was later dispatched to G7 embassies and international media. The resolution outlined five key demands:
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Official recognition of Jammu and Kashmir as a global issue, not just a bilateral dispute.
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Demilitarization of both sides of the Line of Control (LoC).
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A UN-led plebiscite to grant the Kashmiri people their promised right to choose.
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Deployment of international human rights monitors in the region.
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Formation of a UN fact-finding mission to assess and document violations in both regions of Kashmir.
This resolution was seen as a clear and actionable roadmap for G7 leaders to address Kashmir through a rights-based, international law framework.
Why Calgary Was Chosen as Ground Zero
Though the G7 Summit was taking place in Kananaskis, protesters chose Calgary for several reasons:
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Proximity and Visibility: Calgary is the closest major city to the G7 venue.
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Legal Protection: Designated protest zones in Calgary ensured safe and lawful demonstration.
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Diversity and Democracy: Calgary’s multicultural and democratic values amplified the protest’s message of peaceful resistance.
By staging the protest in Calgary, organizers ensured that the voices of the voiceless echoed in front of international observers and Canadian citizens alike.
Multigenerational, Peaceful, and Inclusive Protest
The demonstration wasn’t just a political event—it was a community expression of unity and resilience. Families came together, with children chanting “Free Kashmir!” and elders sharing memories of the 1947 partition and its aftermath. The mood was solemn but hopeful.
Support poured in from other marginalized communities, including Pakistani, Sikh, and Palestinian groups, highlighting broader solidarity around issues of occupation, displacement, and human rights violations.
Organizers were clear in their stance:
“This isn’t about hatred. This is about hope. It’s not about politics—it’s about pain and the pursuit of dignity.”
Two Key Themes: Self-Determination and Human Rights
The protest revolved around two interconnected principles:
1. The Right to Self-Determination
Referencing UN Security Council Resolutions 47 and 91, protesters demanded that Kashmiris finally be allowed to vote on their future. Despite multiple reaffirmations by the international community, the plebiscite has yet to be held.
2. Human Rights Crisis Under Military Occupation
Protesters cited well-documented cases of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and media blackouts. They urged G7 nations to acknowledge these abuses and act under international humanitarian law.
Concrete Demands to G7 Leaders
The protesters called on the G7 nations—Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the US—to take specific steps:
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Acknowledge Kashmir as a global human rights concern.
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Include Kashmir in G7 dialogues and foreign policy debates.
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Press India and Pakistan to demilitarize the region.
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Support a UN-supervised referendum to determine the region’s political status.
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Back a fact-based international commission to investigate human rights violations in Kashmir.
These demands were outlined in official letters delivered to G7 embassies in Canada.
Reaction from Canadian Authorities and Media
Canadian officials permitted the peaceful demonstration, reaffirming Canada’s commitment to free speech and protest rights. Local police and city authorities reported no incidents or disruptions.
Canadian media, including CTV Calgary, covered the rally, giving national exposure to an issue often overshadowed by other global crises. Social media hashtags such as #KashmirProtestCalgary, #FreeKashmir, #KashmirBanyGaKhubMukhtar, #G7Summit2025, and #JusticeForKashmir trended across platforms.
Stories That Humanize the Struggle
Beyond speeches and slogans, the real power lay in personal testimonies:
“I come from a family whose elders lived through 1947. My grandmother still remembers the fear, the division, the loss. This isn’t history—we live the consequences,” said a young woman wrapped in a Kashmiri shawl.
An elderly man added,
“They call it peace—but peace under occupation is still occupation. We stand here so no other family endures what we have.”
These voices put a human face on a decades-old geopolitical issue and emphasized the emotional and psychological cost of statelessness.
Conclusion: A Defining Moment in Diaspora Advocacy
The June 15 protest in Calgary was more than symbolic—it was strategic, emotional, and urgent. As the world’s most powerful democracies convened for the G7 Summit, the Kashmiri diaspora stood united, not in anger, but in a collective plea for justice, dignity, and the right to decide their own future.
“Our humanity is non-negotiable. Our right to choose our future is our birthright. The world must no longer turn away.”
For the people of Jammu and Kashmir—and their supporters across the world—this protest was a reminder that silence is complicity and that justice delayed is still justice denied.
