JKNSF’s 22nd Central “Intifada Jammu Kashmir Convention”

By JKNSF

The 22nd Central “Intifada Jammu Kashmir Convention” of the Jammu Kashmir National Students Federation (JKNSF) was held at Sabir Shaheed Stadium in Rawalakot on 20th September 2025. Hundreds of students and youth from different regions of Jammu Kashmir and Pakistan participated in the gathering.

In the days leading up to the convention, the administration and state authorities attempted to sabotage the event by first canceling the venue and later revoking official permission. However, comrades and revolutionaries of JKNSF stood firm and messages of support poured in from around the world, including different sections of the International Socialist League (ISL), South Asia Solidarity Network, and other left-wing organizations from Argentina, Brazil, France, Spain, the USA, the UK, Ukraine and elsewhere. International branches of JKNSF and the Peoples Revolutionary Front announced protests in front of Pakistan’s embassies and consulates in Britain and the USA. With the courage and unwavering commitment of JKNSF comrades, backed by international solidarity, the administration was compelled to allow this historic event — one that will have lasting impacts across South Asia in the days to come.

On September 20th, the convention opened with the arrival of caravans from across the region, followed by a mass rally under the banner of the “Students’ Caravan” in solidarity with Palestine and Kashmir. Participants marched through the city, raising slogans against imperialism, foreign military occupation, and for the right to self-determination — as well as for the establishment of a voluntary Socialist Federations of South Asia, the Middle East, and beyond.

The rally converged at the stadium, where the central convention formally began. Delegates and speakers emphasized that the imperialist occupation of Palestine must end, that Palestinians must be granted their right to freedom, and that the Israeli state must be dismantled. They condemned the ongoing Israeli aggression in Gaza, describing it as systematic genocide carried out with the backing of the United States and supported by ruling elites across the world.

On Kashmir, the speakers demanded the withdrawal of all foreign military forces and full recognition of the right to self-determination, including the right to separation, for all regions connected with the dispute. They further called for the abolition of the Karachi Agreement and Act 74, and for the establishment of constituent assemblies in both Jammu Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan with sovereignty over local resources. Participants also opposed the recent presidential ordinance extending the jurisdiction of federal forces to the region, demanding the immediate withdrawal of Rangers and the Federal Constabulary. They vowed to carry forward the fight against the brutality of capitalist exploitation until final victory — socialism.

The newly elected central cabinet of JKNSF was announced during the convention. Former central president Khalil Babar administered the oath. Badar Rafiq was elected as the new President and Arsalan Shani as Secretary General. Other elected office-bearers included: Dr. Saad ul Hasan (Senior Vice President), Danish Yaqoob (Vice President), Mujeeb Akbar (Deputy Secretary General), Faizan Aziz (Joint Secretary), Ehsan Zakir (Chief Organizer), Aazan Ali (Deputy Chief Organizer), Adil Farooq (Chairman Finance Board), Ahmer Abrar (Deputy Chairman Finance Board), Aliza Aslam (Chairperson Study Circle), Umair Khalid (Deputy Chairperson Study Circle), Saima Batool (Chairperson Publicity Board), Mujeeb Khan (Spokesperson), Umair Khurshid (Editor Azam), and Maryam Shoaib (In-charge Social Media Cell).

The first session of the convention was chaired by Dr. Saad ul Hasan, while the second session was conducted by Secretary General Arsalan Shani.

Resolutions of the 22nd Central “Intifada Jammu Kashmir Convention”

At the conclusion of the proceedings, resolutions were presented by Benish Kazim and unanimously adopted by all participants. The convention demanded:

• Immediate cessation of Israeli bombing of Gaza and the breaking of the blockade to allow humanitarian aid. The international “Global Sumud Flotilla,” composed of human rights activists from across the world, must be allowed to reach Gaza without obstruction. In the event of aggression or interference, the convention pledged support for worldwide protest actions.

• An end to the commercialization of education. All private educational institutions should be nationalized, a uniform and modern scientific curriculum introduced, and free education guaranteed at every level.

• The immediate lifting of the ban on student unions and the announcement of a schedule for student union elections.

• Recognition of the right of workers at all levels to form trade unions.

• Provision of basic facilities in educational institutions, including government hostels, transport, and internet access.

• Abolition of the semester system.

• Formation of anti-harassment committees in all institutions with representation from students.

• The unconditional release of Ali Wazir, Mahrang Baloch, Yasin Malik, and all political activists imprisoned in Jammu Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Balochistan, Pakhtoonkhwa, Sindh, and Punjab, along with the withdrawal of fabricated political cases arising from mass movements.

• Opening of cross-Line of Control travel on the basis of the state subject rule.

• Registration of all unemployed individuals at the state level and provision of guaranteed employment or unemployment allowance in the absence of jobs.

• Fixing the minimum monthly wage of workers at PKR75,000.

• Regularization of all ad hoc employees.

• A complete ban on child labor.

• Recognition of trade union rights in every workplace and withdrawal of all anti-worker policies.

• Elimination of gender discrimination and provision of equal opportunities for women at every level.

• Prohibition of profiteering from healthcare and provision of free, modern, scientific treatment at the state level.

• A complete ban on deforestation and other private or imperialist projects causing environmental destruction, alongside the adoption of environmentally sustainable measures.

• Development of local tourism industries with community participation and state support, along with improvements in road infrastructure and other public facilities.

Finally, the convention reaffirmed its commitment to equip students, youth, and workers with the ideas of revolutionary socialism, to build an alternative political and revolutionary leadership, and to struggle until the unconditional right of self-determination is achieved for all oppressed nationalities linked with the Jammu Kashmir question. The convention pledged to continue the fight for the establishment of a voluntary Socialist Federation of Jammu Kashmir and South Asia, and to unite with workers and youth across the world in the struggle for emancipation and the overthrow of the imperialist-capitalist system.

At the end, in his presidential address, Badar Rafiq formally thanked all participants and guests at this historic event, as well as comrades around the world who expressed solidarity with JKNSF — especially Comrade Cele Fierro of ISL – MST, whose words of solidarity from the Sumud Flotilla were a major source of inspiration. He, along with his cabinet, vowed to carry forward the struggle against this barbaric system to its conclusion — for a society that can truly be called human: Socialism.

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