ISLAMABAD — Pakistan observed Kashmir Black Day across the country and globally on Tuesday, marking 79 years since Indian troops first landed in Srinagar on October 27, 1947, and reiterating unshakeable diplomatic, political, and moral support for the Kashmiri people's legitimate right to self-determination.
Resolute National Leadership Rebukes Unilateral Actions
In special commemorative messages, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid homage to the resilience and sacrifices of the Kashmiri populace living under military siege in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). Both leaders emphasized that peace in South Asia remains permanently tied to a just, durable resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in full accordance with relevant United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.
The leadership condemned India's ongoing attempts to alter the demographic, administrative, and political composition of IIOJK following its unilateral and unlawful actions of August 5, 2019. Federal leaders emphasized that draconian legislations, arbitrary detentions of political figures, and demographic restructuring directly contravene the Fourth Geneva Convention and international human rights treaties.
Nationwide Rallies, Diplomatic Briefings, and Global Solidarity
Rallies, seminars, and photographic exhibitions were organized nationwide, including major gatherings in Islamabad, Muzaffarabad, Lahore, Karachi, and Peshawar. Participants carrying banners and black flags voiced solidarity with Kashmiris, calling on the global community and international human rights bodies to hold New Delhi accountable for documented human rights violations in the valley.
Pakistan's diplomatic missions abroad organized special seminars and diaspora engagements in key capitals, briefing foreign parliamentarians, international media, and human rights defenders on the situation in IIOJK, where curfews, media blackouts, and communication curbs continue to suppress free expression.
Urgent Appeal for UN-Supervised Plebiscite
The Foreign Office reaffirmed that the Jammu and Kashmir dispute remains one of the oldest unresolved items on the agenda of the United Nations. Islamabad urged the UN Security Council and the international community to move beyond rhetorical statements and implement its binding resolutions providing for a free, fair, and impartial plebiscite under UN auspices.
Reiterating that Pakistan will never compromise on the fundamental rights of the Kashmiri people, officials affirmed that Islamabad will continue to advocate their cause at every multilateral forum until their legitimate aspirations are realized. For comprehensive coverage of international affairs, diplomacy, and South Asian geopolitics, visit PakPulse247's News desk and Pakistan desk.