- Tiranga rallies and national anthem events held in Keran, Teetwal and Kupwara
- Programmes organised to counter Pakistan’s “Kashmir Solidarity Day”
- Shops display national flags instead of shutdown calls
- Bike rally from Trehgam to Kupwara marks shift in local mood
GG News Bureau
Srinagar, 5th Feb: In a first-of-its-kind response, patriotic events featuring the national flag, the national anthem and Tiranga rallies were organised along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir on February 5, countering Pakistan’s so-called Kashmir Solidarity Day.
While Pakistan marked the day with a two-minute silence across the LoC in the frontier district of Kupwara, the Indian side resonated with patriotic songs and flag marches.
At border villages such as Keran and Teetwal, residents and officials organised programmes beginning with the singing of the national anthem, followed by Tiranga rallies and cultural events. According to officials, the events were aimed at reinforcing national unity and countering Pakistan’s narrative on the day.
February 5 is observed in Pakistan as Kashmir Solidarity Day, with rallies and diplomatic outreach intended to project support for separatist causes. In previous years, separatist groups in parts of Kashmir had also marked the day through shutdown calls and demonstrations.
However, the situation has changed markedly in recent years. With separatist networks weakened and security forces maintaining firm control on the ground, the day saw a different response this time. Instead of shutdowns, shopkeepers in several areas displayed the national flag in their shop windows.
A Tiranga bike rally was also organised from Trehgam to Kupwara town. Trehgam is the ancestral village of Maqbool Bhat, the founder of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, who was executed in 1984 after being convicted of the murder of an intelligence officer.
Officials said the patriotic events along the LoC reflected a visible shift in local sentiment, with communities choosing to mark the day with national pride rather than protest.
