An ‘Azadi march’ meaning ‘Freedom march’ is being led by JKLF from Pakistani-administered Kashmir city Muzaffarabad towards Line of Control.
“Kashmir Banega Khudmukhtar” (Kashmir will become independent) is the primary slogan of the march.
Thousands of people from across the Pakistani-administered Kashmir have joined the protest.
JKLF regional head and organiser of the march, Dr Tauqeer Gillani says that it is high time the Indian government stops the shutdown of Indian-administered Kashmir and let the people live.
“It has been more than 65 days since the lockdown of Kashmir in India. We would like to engage the international community and the United Nations to join and stop the atrocities there," he told SBS Urdu.
“We would like to see all the steps reverted back that was taken on August 5 by the Indian government.”
“Secondly, the line called known as the ceasefire results in the divide between two nuclear states that have been exchanging fire since the last 72 years that also kills Kashmiris, we would like it to be removed.
“Kashmir should be a separate independent state and its people should be given the right to vote and decide their own future.
However, the march was stopped eight kilometres from the Line of Control (LoC) by local authorities. The Pakistani government is not allowing the protesters to reach the LOC with concerns of a possible backlash from Indian forces across the border.
Large containers, barbed wires and electricity poles have been laid on the road to stop the protestors to continue their march.
Dr Gillani says they are not worried and will continue to sit and wait till they get a chance to reach LOC.
“We might see a reaction from India [when we reach LOC] but we are already dying for many decades, so won't stop.
"With international media and UN observers along with us, I doubt Indian forces will stop and fire at us."
Earlier Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan tweeted that although he understands what the people in Pakistan-administered Kashmir are going through but crossing the LOC will only mean “Kashmiri struggle will play into the hands of the Indian narrative”.
“I understand the anguish of the Kashmiris in AJK seeing their fellow Kashmiris in IOJK under an inhumane curfew for over 2 months.”
“But anyone crossing the LoC from AJK to provide humanitarian aid or support for Kashmiri struggle will play into the hands of the Indian narrative.
“A narrative that tries to divert from the indigenous Kashmiris' struggle against brutal Indian Occupation by trying to label it as "Islamic terrorism" being driven by Pakistan. It will give India an excuse to increase the violent oppression of Kashmiris in IOJK & attack across LoC.”
Dr Gilani criticised PM Khan’s recent statement on JKLF march and said that in UN Khan talked about the freedom of Kashmir yet when the Kashmiris are marching for the same thing, he doesn’t like it.
“JKLF’s Chairman is currently in India’s jail along with its senior leaders.
“At one end, Indian media is portraying that JKLF is doing the march under the guidance of Pakistan government while in Pakistan it is being assumed that it is Modi’s agenda.
“All these rumours are baseless. This is JKLF march by Kashmiris who are peaceful and want the freedom of the state.”
Meanwhile, the Indian government has continued the lockdown of Indian-administered Kashmir.
In the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly last month, PM Khan said that there were 900,000 Indian forces in the region policing 8 million Kashmiris.
“What’s he [Modi] going to do when he lifts the curfew? Does he think the people of Kashmir are quietly going to accept the status quo?” Khan said. “What is going to happen when the curfew is lifted will be a bloodbath.”
“They will be out in the streets. And what will the soldiers do? They will shoot them. … Kashmiris will be further radicalized.”
In its right of reply, the Indian government called Khan’s speech “a callous portrayal of the world in binary terms”.
“Rarely has the General Assembly witnessed such misuse, rather an abuse, of an opportunity to reflect. Words matter in diplomacy. Invocation of phrases such as ‘pogrom’,” the Indian representative at the UNGA said.
“Prime Minister Khan’s threat of unleashing nuclear devastation qualifies as brinksmanship, not statesmanship.
“While Pakistan has ventured to upstream terrorism and downstream hate speech there, India is going ahead with mainstreaming development in Jammu and Kashmir.
“The mainstreaming of Jammu & Kashmir, as well as Ladakh, in India’s thriving and vibrant democracy with a millennia-old heritage of diversity, pluralism and tolerance is well and truly underway. Irreversibly so.
“Citizens of India do not need anyone else to speak on their behalf, least of all those who have built an industry of terrorism from the ideology of hate.”
Human Rights Watch has expressed concern over the shutdown in Indian-occupied Kashmir.
“India has said that the restrictions have saved lives and maintained order. But fear of arbitrary arrests and shootings by security forces has left the Kashmir valley full of shuttered shops and empty classrooms.” Meenakshi Ganguly, HRW South Asia Director said.
“The authorities have blocked visits by diplomats, international journalists, Indian activists, and opposition politicians.”
“Indian authorities should announce an end to repressive actions and hold to account security force personnel responsible for abuses. They should release all those detained without charge and restore communications. Months of a broad-based clampdown on civil liberties can’t be justified by vague claims of maintaining order.
The JKLF- Indian chapter led by Yasin Malik was banned in March this year by the Indian government under its anti-terror law, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA).
On 25th September, a Delhi High Court tribunal upheld the ban imposed on Yasin Malik-led Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act citing 101 cases involving violence registered against it.
"It is held that the activities of the respondent Association, its office bearers and members have been disruptive in character which threatens the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India. They have been acting in collusion with other similar groups to disrupt peace and harmony in Jammu and Kashmir. The Central Government had sufficient credible material and grounds for taking action," the Tribunal said.
JKLF leader, Yasin Malik is currently lodged in Delhi's Tihar jail.
