By: Sergio García
On the weekend of April 12-13, a new Congress of The Struggle, the section of the ISL in this important South Asian country and part of the huge and fragmented Indian subcontinent, was held in the city of Lahore, Pakistan.
The Congress began on Saturday morning with the video presentation of international greetings from ISL organizations from different countries and continents, plus greetings from other leaders and friends of our Pakistani organization. Thus began the event with an important show of international support. Accompanying the political debates, the strength of the Congress was also manifested, throughout the points and sessions, with different chants and the agitation of struggle from the stands of the imposing hall of the Congress. And also with different comrades who came forward to sing and recite poems, who gave a cultural context related to the debates of this revolutionary organization. Also different illustrations and videos on a giant screen, which highlighted images of the Palestinian people and their struggle against the genocide perpetrated by Zionism, were part of this event.
As part of the international support to the 42nd Congress of The Struggle, I was present for the Executive of the ISL and for the MST of Argentina, giving the report of the international point of the Congress and bringing the greetings of the Coordinator of the ISL Alejandro Bodart. And Ezra Otieno from the ISL of Kenya was present, who also intervened in that point developing the international analysis from the African perspective. Comrade friends of The Struggle from other countries were also present.
The first item of the Congress, under the name;a turning point in history: Trump, the crisis and the decline of the liberal order, was obviously fully dedicated to the international situation. And both throughout the report, as well as in the interventions on the international situation, we were ratifying the importance of understanding the world changes that are taking place with the policy carried out by Trump and US imperialism, which is abandoning the agreements with the other imperialisms of the West to try a new international scaffolding and a new context in its dispute and negotiations with China and Russia, all with the aim of trying to keep the US as the first world power and at the same time recover profits for its capitalists. The advances of the ISL were also explained with the incorporation of the OTI (which sent the greetings of its leader Franco Grisolia to this Congress) and the possibilities of new steps of regroupment, with the debate that is also advancing with the L5I (with a comrade from Pakistan present as a guest).
Both on the changes in course, the analysis on the new ultra-right and the context of social and political polarization that runs through the world, the correct definitions of the last elaboration and material of the ISL that identifies a new world disorder and also the definitions of the Document that the leadership of The Struggle presented to the Congress on the World Perspective were noted. In the closing of this point the leader of Pakistan and also of the leadership of the ISL, Imran Kamyana, synthesized the definitions of the document presented, answered questions from the militancy, called on all those present to deepen the study of the international situation, as part of the political strengthening of his organization. Thus culminating the first point of the Congress, with a central theme, which then at the end of the event, would be resumed with the vote by a show of hands on the document presented.
The Congress continued with the presentation of the report on the situation and perspective in Pakistan, by Zafar Ullah. The current situation was analyzed on the basis of the structure of the country, with a weak, dependent bourgeoisie incapable of developing the economy or establishing a sovereign nation-state and a modern bourgeois democracy. Backwardness, poverty and inequality, state repression and national and gender oppression are the basis of the current situation. Artificially created with the colonial partition of India, Pakistan is a prison of oppressed nations, whose struggles are intensifying, particularly in Balochistan which, as the comrades from that region told, is in a complex situation close to a civil war. Opinions and conclusions were developed on all this difficult situation in the country, including the inequalities between different regions and the verification of some processes of struggle between sectors of workers, which is expected to continue to deepen.
And at the same time, both in the report and in the intervention of Rashid Sheikh, the situation in Kashmir, which comes from an important process of mobilizations last year, and the consequences of that are still manifesting themselves, with movements from below that open opportunities and perspectives for The Struggle, which leads the main mass organization of the Kashmiri student movement and at the same time heads a leftist political space, which already had its first and positive electoral interventions, and is preparing for a strong political-electoral battle in 2026, towards the elections to the legislative chamber of this dynamic region.
At the end of the first day, discussion and exchange commissions were also held, with an important participation. These were on the following topics: Women’s Commission led by Rehana Akhtar and Khkula Bacha and with very important participation. A very large Youth Commission led by Arslan Shani and Awais Qarni. And also the PTUDC Commission led by Changez Malik and Anwar Panhwar.
The following day, the Congress continued with a session dedicated to the analysis and study of a regional fact of historical scope; the Saur revolution; hope, resistance and salvation. The Afghan revolution that in 1978 marked a break in the whole region and has very useful conclusions and experiences for the intervention at present. The same was presented by Ghufran Ahad, marking the importance that all the militancy of Pakistan knows and deepens the subject. Hence, the report highlighted the whole history of the struggle of the Afghan country, such as the different interventions of the British Empire, up to the intervention of Russia and Yankee imperialism, who with different needs and objectives, acted and intervened to liquidate the process of revolution of 1978. The point was also presented through a dynamic and interesting video, which will be published next April 27th, when a new anniversary of this revolution will be celebrated. And the whole debate was ultimately aimed at demonstrating how revolution is still possible in the world, even in the midst of difficult circumstances, and even in the midst of debates about the directions and policies pursued, as happened in this revolution and in others around the world.
The fourth and last point of the Congress, entitled Forging the Revolutionary Party, was dedicated to the situation and construction and organization of the party in all its regions. It took place with the important intervention of the leader Awais Qarni, who developed central aspects of the reality and the situation of the organization and called to strengthen the militant structure of the party and the levels of organization of the revolutionaries in each region of the country. As well as the study of political issues. Along with continuing to respond to the challenges of reality, such as those presented in Kashmir. Awais also exemplified the enormous effort, human and financial, involved in organizing and holding a Congress in the current conditions of the country, which gives more value to this event and its results.
After all this important debate, it was time for the closing of the Congress and its different votes. The same counted with the greeting that I had to give on behalf of the ISL, calling to strengthen revolutionary internationalism, marking the importance of the contribution of The Struggle in the construction of the ISL and the advances that are taking place in the construction of the international, that under a common program and a method of construction of respect to different experiences and traditions, can consolidate new steps towards the Congress at the end of the year. Inviting to participate in the International Anti-Facist and Anti-Zionist Forum to be held on May 2 and 3.
The final closing of the event was in charge of Imran Kamyana. Who highlighted the importance of this 42nd Congress, also stressed the importance for the working class and the people of the country that the party advances and develops. He urged all those present to make the best efforts, to know how to place themselves in each moment and stage of the construction of a revolutionary party. He recalled how Lal Khan knew how to position himself in different situations. And even in different moments of the world situation and Pakistan, he was never skeptical and always sought to advance in the construction of the party. Under this example and others, he saluted the success of this important Congress, encouraging to carry forward the tasks and with the conviction that new advances can be achieved in the time to come.
After Imran’s final speech, the entire hall raised its fists to sing the Internationale, the workers’ anthem, and finally, with strength and emotion, this 42nd Congress of The Strggle.
Voices and some final conclusions
Next, complementing this chronicle of the 42nd Congress, we share the words of the leaders of The Struggle, Imran Kamyana and Awais Qarni and comrade Khkula Bachaafter the end of the Congress.
Imran Kamyana
The perspective ahead of us is that of wars, civil wars, revolutions, counter-revolutions and total polarization in the world. And at this moment, I believe that we socialists, at the international level, have the most important tasks. And that is exactly what we are doing: building the International Socialist League in every corner of the world.
During this Congress, comrades came from Argentina and Africa, and we received messages of solidarity from Chile, Paraguay, Australia, Middle East, Kashmir… everywhere. As Trotsky said, the crisis is a crisis of direction. Because the world is going to change, for better or worse. Either Trump’s madness will take over the planet, or a worldwide socialist society will flourish.
The revolutions we read about in history books are happening right now, right in front of our eyes. In Bangladesh they revolted. They could not go much further because there was no revolutionary party. In Sri Lanka the same thing happened. In Kenya, too. We have to build the forces of socialist revolution. That is the only way to make possible the emancipation of the working class. As Lal said, “if socialism is not internationalism, it is nothing.”
This 42nd Congress of The Struggle has an international character. It was not simply a congress of Marxists in Pakistan. It is a congress of Marxists and revolutionaries fighting against capitalism in all parts of the world.
Awais Qarni
We had to face many difficulties in order to organize the Congress. First, the government cancelled the hall where we were going to meet. We had to change the dates so that the Congress would take place right after Ramazan and Eid. And, in these very tough economic conditions, many people had already spent their savings so that their daughters and sons could celebrate Eid. And right after that came the Congress.
But the Congress was a huge success. Comrades came from war zones like Balochistan, from the Pashtun region as well, and from all the places where today an economic war is being waged in people’s own homes. They have to sacrifice their meals, their most basic needs, to be able to travel and participate in the Congress.
Hundreds came from Kashmir, where last year a mass movement won a historic victory, and where our comrades are now pushing for a political alternative for next year’s elections. Many also came from Sindh, where there is now a big movement, and from all over Punjab. And I think, all in all, this was a truly successful and historic Congress.
Khkula Bacha
In April 2025, the 42nd Congress of The Struggle was held in Lahore. At a time when the world is in a state of devastation, like a time bomb that could explode at any instant and envelop the entire planet, it is crucial to have a global force capable of uniting these scattered fragments and establishing an international unity of the working class. That is why this Congress was of great importance: it represents a milestone in the building of a world revolutionary party.
In a so-called “third world” country like Pakistan, pre-existing problems have been deepened by the crisis of capitalism. Because of economic misery, people are socially isolated from each other, suffering from alienation. Each individual is mentally burdened by one problem or another. There is a cultural decay in society, and the constant deceptions of politicians have left people disenchanted with politics. A sense of hopelessness pervades society as a whole. In such conditions, organizing a successful Congress is undoubtedly a great achievement for the whole organization.
Despite economic problems, long and dangerous journeys where comrades risked their lives to participate with their families – people from all regions of Pakistan, including many women – attended the Congress and made it a success. Neither cultural obstacles nor domestic problems could stop them. The Congress was not only a success in terms of participation, but also in terms of quality. People listened to the debates with great attention and interest, showing extraordinary discipline. The discussions were wide-ranging and rich. There was an atmosphere of enthusiasm, passion and thirst for revolution.
Pakistan is considered one of the most dangerous countries for women. Women are denied all basic rights: they are killed in the name of “honor”, denied education, discriminated against in access to food and health care, prevented from leaving their homes, forbidden to laugh out loud, marry or live by their own choices. Many women spend their entire lives confined within four walls, where all they see is the sky. Very few manage to leave their homes to study, and perhaps only one percent are able to work. Whether in educational institutions or in the workplace, women face discrimination everywhere. In this context, even mentioning politics in relation to women is a source of ridicule.
In such conditions, mobilizing women for revolutionary work becomes an extremely difficult task. To work among women, compared to men, we have to exert four times more effort. And during that process, a woman engaged in revolutionary activity also suffers the same difficulties faced by all other women, which means that a revolutionary woman is fighting two battles at the same time. But despite all these difficulties, the comrades of The Struggle have not lost hope and are working tirelessly to incorporate women into the revolutionary struggle – and are making progress. In our organization there are women present from all regions of Pakistan: students, workers and housewives. It is our revolutionary duty, and we firmly believe that no organization is complete without women, and no revolution can succeed without them. That is why our struggle is to unite working men and women to build a world revolutionary party to lead the task of global revolution.
