Pakistan marks Kashmir black day, condemns India’s occupation

ISLAMABAD: Today October 27, marks Kashmir Black Day, commemorating the 77-year struggle of the Kashmiri people for self-determination.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have strongly condemned India’s suppression of Kashmiris’ rights, labeling October 27, 1947, a “dark chapter” in South Asia’s history.

On this day, Indian forces occupied Jammu and Kashmir, leading to decades of oppression and human rights violations.

President Zardari emphasized that three generations of Kashmiris have been awaiting their right to self-determination, guaranteed by the United Nations.

In addition, he urged the international community to pressure India to cease its militarization of the region and respect Kashmiris’ fundamental rights. Zardari reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering support for the Kashmiri people’s freedom struggle.

“We urge the international community to pressurize India to halt its human rights abuses in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), alleviate the suffering of Kashmiris, and implement UN Security Council resolutions. Pakistan will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with its Kashmiri brothers and sisters until they achieve their inalienable right to self-determination,” President Zardari added.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also condemned India’s occupation, highlighting how it has used anti-terrorism laws to justify oppression.

“On this day, 77 years ago, Indian forces landed in Srinagar. India has since stifled the legitimate aspirations of the Kashmiri people to determine their destiny. It has failed to fulfill its obligations under the relevant UN Security Council resolutions. The people of the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) have suffered countless hardships during the last seventy-seven years. However, their resolve to realize their inalienable right to self-determination remains as firm as it was in 1947.” PM Shehbaz stated.

However, he noted that such measures cannot extinguish the Kashmiri people’s desire for self-determination. Sharif pledged Pakistan’s continued moral, diplomatic, and political support until the conflict is resolved under UN Security Council resolutions.

The Kashmir dispute has long been a contentious issue, with multiple UN resolutions and bilateral agreements between India and Pakistan failing to yield a lasting solution.

The international community’s attention to this issue is crucial, as the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination remains a pressing concern.