JKLF stands for Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front and was originally the military wing of Azad Kashmir Plebiscite Front but later changed its name to JKLF on May 29 1977.

The co-founders of JKLF were Maqbool Bhat (Of Kashur origin and commonly referred to as ‘Baba-E-Qoum’ or Father of the Nation) and Amanullah Khan (Born in Gilgit-Baltistan and of Gilgiti origin. He then later moved to Kupwara.)

JKLF centers the national liberation movement of the Kashmiri people against the colonial Indian state. The JKLF seeks to establish a secular, independent Kashmiri state, uniting Pakistan administered Kashmir and Indian-occupied Kashmir.

The JKLF’s leaders were inspired by anti-colonial liberation movements in North Africa, Palestine, and Vietnam. Most notably, Maqbool Bhat was anti-capitalist.

Despite being initially funded by Pakistan, JKLF later transitioned into securing funds independently of any political entities. This occurred due to the strong pro-independence ambitions of the JKLF, which conflicted with Pakistani aspirations for Kashmir.

JKLF was among one of the first active resistance groups in Jammu and Kashmir, acting alone for 15 months before other groups began to form.

JKLF was active in armed struggle from 1976-1994, up until Yasin Malik, the commander-in-chief of the JKLF, called for an indefinite ceasefire. The reasons for the ceasefire were due to the intense amount of casualties, both from JKLF and Kashmiri civilians, and political infighting between other resistance groups active in Kashmir.

India ignored the ceasefire and a few days later massacred many JKLF fighters.

Amanullah Khan did not agree with the ceasefire which split the JKLF into half, one wing in Indian-Occupied Kashmir and another in Azad Jammu & Kashmir. These two factions later reunited in 2005.

1979 – JKFL co-founder Amanullah Khan and leaders of other liberation movements addressing a press conference at UN, New York.

On October 3, 1980, 4 JKFL members entered a UN general assembly in NYC, making this the first time India was criticized for its Kashmir policy on any forum.

JKLF was also the first organization to represent Kashmir at the UN human rights annual meeting (on August 13, 1991).

There is an honorary grave waiting for Maqbool Bhat in Mazar-E-Shuhada, the Graveyard of Martyrs, where every martyr killed because of Dogra feudalism and Indian colonialism is buried. Maqbool Bhat was hanged in Tihar Jail on February 11, 1984, and the Indian authorities have refused to return his body since.

JKLF continues to assert its presence as a political actor in the liberation of Kashmiris despite being unarmed.

Yasin Malik is under the threat of execution by the fascist Indian state.

“By liberation, we don’t mean merely the end of foreign occupation from the land of Kashmir but we want our people to be liberated from the forces of poverty, backwardness, ignorance, diseases, injustice, and economic and social disparities. one day we will achieve that freedom” -Maqbool Bhat

“I’ve been saying this for the past 2-3 years, non Kashmiri militants are changing Kashmiri freedom struggle into terrorism” -Amanullah Khan

“If seeking azadi is a crime, then I’m ready to accept its crime and its consequences” -Yasin Malik

@excerpts4revolution