Pakistan Reaffirms Full Support for Kashmiris on Youm-e-Istehsal
Pakistan has once again expressed strong solidarity with the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir on Youm-e-Istehsal. The day marks seven years since India revoked Article 370 and changed the special status of the disputed region on August 5, 2019.
President Asif Ali Zardari paid tribute to the courage and resilience of the Kashmiri people. He said their struggle for the right to self-determination remains just and legitimate. The president noted that India’s unilateral actions in 2019 violated international law and United Nations Security Council resolutions. These steps, he stressed, have not changed the disputed legal status of Jammu and Kashmir.
For the past seven years, millions of Kashmiris have lived under severe restrictions that affect daily life, education, and opportunities. Despite these hardships, their resolve has stayed firm. President Zardari reaffirmed that Pakistan will continue to provide moral, political, and diplomatic support. He urged the international community, especially the United Nations, to address the human rights situation and work toward a peaceful settlement.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described the peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute as a cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign policy. He called on India to reverse the measures taken after August 2019, end human rights violations, and create conditions that allow the Kashmiri people to exercise their right to self-determination according to UN resolutions. The prime minister said lasting peace in South Asia cannot come through coercion or unilateral actions.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also spoke on the occasion. He said India’s actions in 2019 complicated regional peace and increased hardships for the people of IIOJK. While visiting Jordan, he reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering support and called on the international community to uphold international law and the rights of the Kashmiri people.
All three leaders emphasized that Pakistan stands firmly with the people of Jammu and Kashmir. They highlighted the continued suppression of political leadership, restrictions on freedoms, and attempts to alter the demographic character of the territory. Pakistan will keep raising the issue at every international forum until a just solution is achieved in line with the aspirations of the Kashmiri people and relevant UN resolutions.
