Islamabad: On the occasion of Kashmir Black Day, Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, along with other senior officials, reiterated the country’s steadfast support for the Kashmiri struggle for self-determination. In their separate messages, the leaders condemned the ongoing human rights violations by India in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and called for the implementation of United Nations Security Council resolutions to resolve the conflict.

According to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, President Zardari urged the international community to increase pressure on India to cease its abuses in Kashmir and to respect the Kashmiri people’s rights as outlined in international law. He emphasized Pakistan’s continued moral, diplomatic, and political support for the Kashmiri cause.

Prime Minister Sharif highlighted the severe hardships faced by the people of IIOJK over the past 77 years, especially since the controversial legislative changes on August 5, 2019, by India aimed at altering the region’s status and demographics. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar noted that these actions are in violation of relevant UN resolutions and the Geneva Convention, exacerbating the repression in the region.

Further emphasizing the ongoing crisis, Dar criticized recent elections held in IIOJK under heavy military presence, dismissing them as invalid in terms of providing genuine self-determination for the Kashmiri people. He reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to peace in South Asia, stating that lasting peace is contingent upon a just resolution of the Kashmir dispute.

Additionally, Engineer Amir Muqam, Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs, highlighted the continuous human rights violations by India and the unyielding resolve of the Kashmiri people to resist oppression. Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar appealed to the global community to intervene for a peaceful settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir issue and to halt India’s human rights infractions.

These statements collectively underscore Pakistan’s unyielding support for Kashmir and highlight the nation’s advocacy for a plebiscite under United Nations supervision as the only acceptable resolution to the dispute.