ISLAMABAD: Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control, and across the world, observed Black Day on Monday, to mark the 78th anniversary of India’s illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir in 1947.
On this day in 1947, Indian troops invaded Jammu and Kashmir, occupying the region in direct violation of the Partition Plan and against the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
The All Parties Hurriyat Conference called for the observance of the day to raise international awareness about the urgent need to resolve the Kashmir dispute.
In Azad Jammu and Kashmir, the day began with special prayers for Pakistan’s integrity and prosperity and for the early liberation of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
At 10:00 a.m., a one-minute silence was observed in solidarity with the Kashmiri people and their legitimate struggle against illegal Indian occupation.
Protest demonstrations, rallies, seminars, and other programmes were held in all the districts across AJK to condemn the Indian Army’s invasion on this day in 1947.
In Muzaffarabad, a public gathering followed by a rally was taken out by the All Parties Conference AJK Chapter and Kashmir Liberation Cell.
A walk was also organised from the Foreign Office in Islamabad to mark Black Day and demonstrate solidarity with the oppressed people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
Participants from various walks of life, including officers from different ministries and leaders of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, joined the walk. They carried banners and posters condemning Indian atrocities and expressing support for the Kashmiri people.
At D-Chowk, Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Amir Muqam addressed the participants, paying tribute to the courage and resilience of the people of IIOJK.
A one-minute silence was observed at 10:00 a.m. to honor the Kashmiri people and their legitimate struggle against illegal Indian occupation.
Pakistan President, PM reiterate unwavering support
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif have reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering support to the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir in their just struggle for the right to self-determination.
In their separate messages on the Black Day being observed today (Monday), they said October 27, 1947, marks one of the darkest days in history when Indian forces illegally entered Jammu and Kashmir, beginning a brutal occupation that continues to date.
President Asif Ali Zardari said generations of Kashmiris have endured unimaginable suffering under occupation, marked by violence, repression, and denial of their fundamental rights.
He deplored India’s unilateral and illegal actions of August 5, 2019, aimed at changing IIOJK’s demography.
He urged the international community, especially the United Nations, to hold India accountable for grave human rights violations and to ensure implementation of UN Security Council resolutions.
In his message, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said India continues to deny the Kashmiri people their inalienable right to self-determination.
He condemned India’s draconian laws, including the imprisonment of Kashmiri leaders and curbs on freedom of movement and expression.
He said Pakistan has consistently highlighted the plight of Kashmiri brothers and sisters before the international community and echoed their calls for freedom from Indian occupation.
Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed that the Kashmiri people are not alone in their just struggle, as two hundred and forty million Pakistanis stand firmly and resolutely beside them in their pursuit of self-determination.
Deputy PM apprises UN, OIC of Indian atrocities in IIOJK
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar has sent letters to the President of the United Nations General Assembly, the President of the United Nations Security Council, the UN Secretary-General, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the Secretary-General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, drawing their attention to the grave human rights situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
In his letters, he highlighted India’s continued denial of fundamental rights to the Kashmiri people for over seven decades, in clear violation of international law and relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
He warned that India’s ongoing defiance of these obligations, coupled with the increasingly hostile and reckless rhetoric of its leadership, heightens regional tensions and poses a serious threat to peace and stability.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also hosted a special briefing for the Diplomatic Corps in Islamabad, where a short documentary highlighting Indian atrocities in IIOJK was screened for the attending diplomats.
APHC appeals UN, global community to fulfill their obligations
All Parties Hurriyat Conference has appealed to the United Nations and the international community to fulfill their obligations by implementing UN Security Council resolutions guaranteeing Kashmiris’ right to self-determination.
In a statement issued in Srinagar, the APHC spokesman also demanded the release of all detained Hurriyat leaders.
A report from the Research Section of Kashmir Media Service stated that Indian forces have martyred over 500,000 Kashmiris since 1947, forcing more than 3.5 million to migrate to Azad Kashmir, Pakistan, and other countries.
Intensified crackdown since 2019
Rights groups and Kashmiri representatives say the suffering of people in Indian Illegally Occupied Kashmir has worsened since August 5, 2019, when the Hindu-nationalist government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi revoked the region’s semi-autonomous status by abrogating Articles 370 and 35-A of the Indian Constitution.
The move, followed by strict security lockdowns and communication blackouts, stripped the region of its special rights and opened it up to non-resident settlement.
