Islamabad: A significant rally was held this morning on Constitution Avenue to observe Youm-e-Istehsal, marking the anniversary of the revocation of the special status of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir by the Indian government on August 5, 2019. The event drew widespread participation and was a platform for strong statements from Pakistani officials against India’s policies in Kashmir.
According to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar addressed the crowd, condemning the actions taken by India as a clear violation of United Nations resolutions and the UN Charter. He challenged India’s democratic stance, urging it to allow foreign observers into Kashmir to witness the conditions under Indian forces’ control.
Dar criticized India’s attempts to change the demographic makeup of the region by abrogating Articles 370 and 35-A of its constitution, describing these actions as part of India’s “nefarious designs.” He reiterated Pakistan’s commitment, under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s leadership, to advocate for Kashmir at international forums, including the United Nations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
The Deputy Prime Minister affirmed Pakistan’s unwavering support for the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination, a principle enshrined in United Nations Security Council resolutions. He declared that India could not quell the Kashmiri freedom movement and called for a plebiscite to resolve the status of the region.
Echoing Dar’s sentiments, Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan, Engineer Amir Muqam, emphasized that the Kashmir dispute would persist until Kashmiris are granted their right to self-determination. Additionally, APHC Convener, AJK Chapter, Ghulam Muhammad Safi, reinforced the solidarity between the people of Pakistan, Azad Kashmir, and those in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, asserting that Jammu and Kashmir would never integrate with India and echoing the sentiment that Kashmir is the “jugular vein” of Pakistan.