Kashmir Solidarity Day: Protesters In Europe Call it Day of Betrayal

Protests erupted across several European cities on February 5 as Kashmiri groups and Pakistani dissidents rejected Pakistan’s observance of “Kashmir Solidarity Day,” describing it as a propaganda exercise aimed at masking decades of conflict, repression, and political grievances. Demonstrations were held in the United Kingdom and Belgium, where participants accused Islamabad of promoting disinformation while denying political rights and civil liberties in territories under its control.

One of the most prominent protests took place outside the Pakistan Consulate in Bradford, England, where members of the United Kashmir People’s National Party (UKPNP) and residents from Jammu and Kashmir gathered to voice opposition. Protesters raised slogans rejecting what they termed “fraudulent solidarity” and criticized alleged land encroachments, political suppression, and human rights violations in Pakistan-administered regions of Jammu and Kashmir.

Speakers at the Bradford protest alleged that Pakistan-backed militancy and prolonged conflict have resulted in significant loss of life over several decades. They argued that annual expressions of solidarity ring hollow in the absence of accountability and meaningful steps toward protecting political rights, local governance, and control over natural resources. Protest leaders said the observance ignores the lived experiences of Kashmiris affected by violence and displacement.

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Criticism was echoed by Kashmiri political figures based in Europe. Leaders of the Jammu Kashmir National Independence Alliance and UKPNP accused Pakistani authorities of eroding Kashmiri identity through demographic changes and violations of long-standing state subject laws. They claimed that assurances made to local groups regarding land and residency protections have not been honored.

Parallel demonstrations were also reported in London and Brussels, Belgium. In a statement issued from Brussels, UKPNP’s Foreign Affairs Committee said February 5 had become a symbolic ritual lacking substantive action. The group said Kashmiris observe the day as one of betrayal rather than solidarity, reiterating their rejection of violence and their demand for a peaceful, democratic resolution.

The protests coincided with reports of a broader Pakistani disinformation campaign linked to Kashmir Solidarity Day, aimed at international audiences. Demonstrators urged the global community and international rights bodies to scrutinize Pakistan’s actions and move beyond symbolic messaging toward concrete measures addressing political rights, accountability, and long-term resolution of the Kashmir dispute.

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