Islamabad, July 12, 2023 (PPI-OT): Today marks the 92nd Youm-e-Shuhada-e-Kashmir (Kashmir Martyrs’ Day). At this solemn occasion, I pay homage to the 22 Kashmiri martyrs, who rendered the ultimate sacrifice while braving the indiscriminate firing by the Dogra forces in 1931. On this somber day, the people of Pakistan join their Kashmiri brethren in commemorating the sacrifice of the Martyrs of 1931. Regrettably, Kashmiris are still struggling against India’s illegal occupation. Even today, over 900,000-strong Indian occupation forces continue to hold the Kashmiri people hostage to perpetuate their wrongful occupation of Jammu and Kashmir.

India’s illegal and unilateral actions of 5 August 2019 were yet another attempt to strip the Kashmiri people of their distinct identity and turn them into a minority in their own land. Subsequent to these measures, hurting the sentiments of the Kashmiris, India scrapped the regional public holiday on Kashmir Martyrs’ Day, which had been observed every year since 1948. India also discontinued the traditional Guard of Honor ceremony at the Martyrs’ Graveyard. As we honor the invaluable sacrifices of the heroes of 1931 as well as all innocent Kashmiris who have laid down their lives in their this just struggle, we once again urge India to immediately halt repression in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), cease all human rights violations, release all political prisoners, lift the military siege, stop its attempts to change the demographic structure of the occupied territory, and let the Kashmiri people exercise their legitimate right to self-determination.

The international community, especially the international human rights organizations and the United Nations’ human rights machinery, should take cognizance of the dire human rights and humanitarian situation in the IIOJK and ensure peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the relevant UNSC resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people.

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