Kashmiris across both sides of the Line of Control (LoC) and around the globe are observing Youm-e-Istehsal today (Tuesday), commemorating five years since India’s controversial move on August 5, 2019, to revoke the special status of Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. This annual observance reflects unwavering solidarity with the Kashmiri people and their continued rejection of India’s illegal occupation.
Youm-e-Istehsal, meaning the “Day of Exploitation,” is marked in Pakistan and by the Kashmiri diaspora to send a clear message to the international community: the people of Kashmir do not recognize India’s unconstitutional actions and continue to resist the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A, which granted special autonomous status to the region.
In violation of UN resolutions and international law, the Modi-led government not only stripped Kashmir of its autonomy but also imposed a brutal military lockdown. This move enabled non-Kashmiris to acquire property and settle in the Muslim-majority region, which many critics view as an attempt to alter its demographics.
Since the abrogation, Kashmir Media Service reports that Indian forces have burned down over 1,100 properties and detained more than 21,000 Kashmiris. Additionally, the military has taken control of 56,000 acres of land, and new domicile laws have granted over five million Hindus the right to settle in the region. Plans are also underway to carve out a Hindu-majority administrative division, comprising Kishtwar, Anantnag, and Kulgam districts.
Further undermining local representation, the Delimitation Commission increased the number of assembly seats from 83 to 90, but Muslim-majority areas saw only a marginal increase.
To mark the day, rallies and events are being held across Pakistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan. In Islamabad, a major rally will start from the Foreign Office and conclude at D-Chowk, featuring dignitaries and citizens alike. A one-minute silence was observed at 10:00 AM, symbolizing national unity with the Kashmiri cause.
Pakistani embassies and missions abroad are also hosting commemorative events, while media outlets will air special programs highlighting the sacrifices of Kashmiris, the struggle of freedom leaders, and the human rights abuses committed under Indian occupation.
