Kashmiris observe 'Jammu Martyrs' Day'

By Satuk Bugra Kutlugun

ANKARA

Kashmiris on Monday observed the "Jammu Martyrs' Day" over the killings of civilians by Indian forces in Jammu Kashmir.

Syed Ali Gilani, the All Parties Hurriyat Conference chairman, said India was not sincere in resolving the Kashmir dispute.

"New Delhi had never assigned any political importance to the dispute over Jammu and Kashmir," Gilani told a meeting of Threek-e-Hurriyat Jammu and Kashmir in Srinagar.

He expressed concern over the "unabated state-sponsored violence, arrests, intimidations and killings" in Jammu Kashmir.

Mufti Nasirul Islam, Deputy Grand Mufti in Jammu Kashmir, rejected talks offer of India and stressed that the dialogue without the involvement of major stakeholders would be a futile exercise.

A recent uprising began on July 8, 2016 following the killing of 21-year-old Kashmiri militant commander Burhan Wani. Since then, Kashmir has been shut down in protest for 121 days and the Indian government responded to the protest demonstrations by imposing strict curfews and crackdowns.

According to the details from the police, over 7,000 civilians, including human rights activists, have been arrested for participating in demonstrations.

Kashmir, a Muslim-majority Himalayan region, is held by India and Pakistan in parts and claimed by both in full. A small sliver of Kashmir is also held by China.

The two countries have fought three wars -- in 1948, 1965 and 1971 -- since they were partitioned in 1947, two of which were fought over Kashmir.

Also in Siachen glacier in northern Kashmir, Indian and Pakistani troops have fought intermittently since 1984. A cease-fire came into effect in 2003.

Kashmiri resistance groups in Jammu Kashmir have been fighting against Indian rule for independence, or for unification with neighboring Pakistan.

More than 70,000 people have reportedly been killed in the conflict since 1989. India maintains more than half a million troops in the disputed region.