Islamabad: Pakistan’s political and military leadership united on Monday to commemorate Youm-e-Istehsal-e-Kashmir, reaffirming their solidarity and support for the Kashmiri struggle for self-determination. This day marks the anniversary of India’s controversial revocation of Article 370, which altered the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the day was observed with speeches and demonstrations emphasizing the continued injustices faced by the people in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). High-ranking officials including President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, and other key figures spoke vehemently against the actions of August 5, 2019, criticizing them as violations of international law and the Fourth Geneva Convention.
President Zardari highlighted the severe implications of India’s actions, which include issuing domicile certificates to non-Kashmiris and restructuring local governance to dilute the native demographic and political influence. He condemned these measures as direct contraventions of United Nations Security Council resolutions and underscored the extensive human rights violations and the militarization in the region.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif articulated Pakistan’s unwavering support for the Kashmiri cause, stating that the national commitment extends beyond mere rhetoric to active and sustained diplomatic efforts on global platforms. He described the Indian government’s efforts to integrate Kashmir as failing in the face of international law and the resilient spirit of the Kashmiri people.
The observance also included a series of walks and public gatherings, led by figures such as the Federal Minister of Kashmir Affairs Amir Muqam, where participants voiced their grievances and called for global intervention. The leaders urged the international community to pressure India to revert the unilateral decisions of 2019, repeal repressive laws, and respect the Kashmiris’ right to self-determination through a UN-supervised plebiscite.
President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry also issued a statement, marking the day as one of the darkest in Kashmir’s history and slamming the Indian administration’s policies as a stark violation of UNSC resolutions aimed at altering the region’s demographic and political landscape.
The commemoration of Youm-e-Istehsal-e-Kashmir serves as a reminder of the ongoing conflict and suffering in IIOJK and Pakistan’s resolve to stand with Kashmir until a peaceful resolution is achieved as per the wishes of its people and the stipulations of international law.