MUZAFFARABAD ( The COW News Digital)Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) marks the 78th anniversary of its establishment today, with the Kashmiri people observing the founding day as a symbol of their continued struggle for freedom and self-determination.
Commemorative events are being held across AJK to pay tribute to the martyrs who laid down their lives for the liberation of Jammu and Kashmir from Dogra rule in 1947. On October 24 of that year, following an uprising against the oppressive Dogra regime, the people of Kashmir established a representative government in the liberated areas — forming what is now known as Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
The day is being observed with a renewed pledge to continue the unfinished mission of Kashmir’s freedom movement and to express solidarity with the people of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir, who continue to face political and military repression.
Public gatherings, rallies, and special ceremonies have been organized throughout AJK, including in Muzaffarabad, Mirpur, and Rawalakot, where political leaders, legal experts, and civil society representatives are recalling the sacrifices of those who fought against colonial and autocratic rule in pursuit of independence.
Legal expert Malik Naseer Awan stated that a large portion of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir remains under India’s “illegal occupation.” He emphasized that despite decades of repression, the Kashmiri people in the occupied region continue to face bullets and imprisonment in their struggle for liberty.
Advocate Supreme Court Azad Kashmir Sardar Shaukat, in his remarks, said that the founding day serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by Kashmir’s forefathers and reinforces the commitment to continue the struggle for the complete freedom and reunification of Jammu and Kashmir.
Political observers note that the anniversary holds special significance this year as the region faces renewed diplomatic and humanitarian challenges amid ongoing tensions between Pakistan and India over the Kashmir dispute.
The AJK government and citizens have reiterated that the 78th anniversary is not merely a commemoration of the past but a reaffirmation of their determination to achieve the long-held dream of a free and unified Kashmir.
