BAKU: The Pakistani Embassy in Azerbaijan held a ceremony to mark Kashmir Black Day, symbolizing 75 years of India’s illegal occupation of the disputed state of Jammu and Kashmir. Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, think tanks, and journalists from various media attended the ceremony in Baku, Azerbaijan.
The solemn occasion commenced with the anthems of Pakistan and Jammu and Kashmir, resonating with the attendees. A representative from an Azerbaijani non-governmental organization delivered a speech, shedding light on the ongoing conflict. Charge d’Affaires Sara Ijaz provided detailed insights into the Kashmir conflict, highlighting the continued suffering of the people in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) under the brutal Indian occupation.
Ijaz highlighted the sufferings of the Kashmiri people following India’s abrogation of the special status of IIOJK through the revocation of Articles 370 and 35-A of the Indian Constitution on August 5, 2019. Since then, a wave of state-sponsored terror and oppression has unfolded, characterized by curfews, cordon and search operations, media restrictions, arbitrary arrests, extra-judicial killings, and efforts to change the region’s demographic and cultural identity. These actions are clear violations of international law, relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, and the Fourth Geneva Convention.
The Charge d’Affaires stressed that Jammu and Kashmir remain an internationally recognized dispute, and unilateral actions by the Indian government cannot alter the territory’s disputed status or deny the legitimate right to self-determination for the Kashmiri people.
Participants at the event reiterated Azerbaijan’s steadfast support for the cause of Jammu and Kashmir under UN resolutions, underscoring the international community’s responsibility to uphold the rights and aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
Photo Exhibition in Connection with Kashmir Black Day
Following the event, guests were invited to view a photo exhibition depicting the plight of Kashmiris under Indian brutality in the IIOJK, providing a powerful visual narrative of the ongoing struggle faced by the Kashmiri populace.
October 27 holds significant historical importance as it marks the day in 1947 when India forcibly invaded the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, subjecting it to occupation against the will of its people. Each year, October 27 is observed as Kashmir Black Day to commemorate the forced occupation of the valley by the Indian Occupation Forces.
