ISLAMABAD; President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering moral, diplomatic, and political support for the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), calling for a just and peaceful resolution of the longstanding dispute in line with United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.
In their separate messages on the occasion of Kashmir Black Day—observed annually to mark the illegal entry of Indian troops into Srinagar on October 27, 1947—both leaders urged the international community to take practical steps for the peaceful settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.
President Zardari appealed to the United Nations, global human rights organisations, and world powers to hold India accountable for its grave and systematic human rights violations in IIOJK. He stressed that lasting peace and stability in South Asia depend on a fair and durable resolution of the Kashmir issue.
He said Pakistan would continue its consistent support for the Kashmiri people who face daily oppression, adding that the nation stands shoulder to shoulder with them in their struggle for self-determination. Zardari recalled that Indian forces’ entry into Srinagar in 1947 was a blatant violation of international law and moral principles.
Highlighting the continuing repression, the president noted that generations of Kashmiris had endured decades of violence and denial of basic rights. He said the Indian campaign of brutality intensified after August 5, 2019, when New Delhi unilaterally revoked Kashmir’s special status, imposed a military siege, and enacted draconian laws to suppress the Kashmiri voice.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif echoed similar sentiments, terming October 27 “the darkest day in the history of Kashmir.” He said India has consistently denied Kashmiris their right to self-determination as guaranteed by numerous UNSC resolutions.
Shehbaz condemned India’s post-2019 actions aimed at altering the demography and political status of the occupied territory, noting that New Delhi’s policies have severely restricted freedom of movement and expression. He said the continued imprisonment of Kashmiri leaders, activists, and journalists under fabricated charges was a clear violation of international human rights norms.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s solidarity, the prime minister said the country would never step back from its commitment to the Kashmir cause until justice is achieved and the promise of self-determination is fulfilled. “Inshallah, that day is not far,” he concluded.
