On Kashmir’s ‘Black Day,’ commemorated to denounce India’s unlawful occupation, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed strong solidarity with the Kashmiri people. Both leaders pledged unwavering support for Kashmir’s right to self-determination until its realization.
President Zardari emphasized Pakistan’s commitment to standing “shoulder-to-shoulder” with Kashmiris, advocating for a just resolution to the Kashmir dispute. He called on the international community to pressure India to cease human rights violations in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and to uphold UN Security Council resolutions. Zardari further condemned ongoing atrocities in the region, affirming Pakistan’s moral, political, and diplomatic backing for Kashmiris’ cause.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif acknowledged the decades-long suffering of Kashmiris under Indian occupation, condemning steps taken since August 5, 2019, that revoked the region’s special status. He criticized India’s attempts to diminish Kashmir’s disputed status, reaffirming Pakistan’s steadfast moral, diplomatic, and political support.
Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and SAFRON, Engineer Amir Muqam, reiterated Pakistan’s dedication to supporting Kashmiris. He highlighted the severe human rights abuses in IIOJK, commending the resilience of Kashmiris in the face of military repression.
Observing Black Day, Kashmiris across the Line of Control and worldwide are united in rejecting India’s occupation. October 27 marks the 1947 invasion of Jammu and Kashmir by Indian forces, seen as a violation of the partition plan. The day is observed with a complete shutdown in IIOJK, while protest marches, rallies, and seminars are held in Pakistan and around the globe.
In Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), events are organized in every district and tehsil to protest India’s 1947 invasion and the August 2019 revocation of Kashmir’s special status by India’s BJP-led government. The Kashmir Liberation Commission has arranged a major protest rally in Muzaffarabad, while various organizations, including Pasban-e-Hurriyat Jammu and Kashmir and Hurriyat groups, have organized anti-India rallies and seminars.
AJK’s President Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry and Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq called on Kashmiris worldwide to voice their protest against India’s actions.