Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday reiterated that Pakistan's position on Jammu and Kashmir remained clear, consistent, and principled, emphasizing that lasting peace and stability in South Asia could not be achieved without a just and peaceful resolution of the dispute as per the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the people.
In a message on Jammu and Kashmir Black Day, being observed on Tuesday (today), he said, "On this Jammu and Kashmir Black Day, the government and people of Pakistan reaffirm their unwavering solidarity with the people of IIOJK." He reaffirmed that Pakistan would continue to extend its moral, diplomatic, and political support to the Kashmiri people, and to advocate their legitimate rights at every national and international forum.
Seventy-nine years ago, he said, Indian forces landed in Srinagar, marking the beginning of a tragic chapter in the history of Jammu and Kashmir that continues to cast its long shadow over the region to this day. Since then, the people of Jammu and Kashmir have been denied their inalienable right to self-determination, as affirmed in the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, he added.
The prime minister observed that the Kashmiris had endured immense hardship, suffering, and repression. Yet their courage, resilience, and unwavering resolve to secure their fundamental rights remained undiminished.
The sacrifices of successive generations stood as a powerful testament to their enduring commitment to freedom, dignity, and justice, he added. "India has continued its efforts to suppress legitimate political expression and silence the voices that represent the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
The prolonged incarceration of Kashmiri political leaders, activists, and human rights defenders remains deeply concerning. It underscores the need for due process, respect for basic liberties, and greater international attention to the situation in Jammu and Kashmir," the PM Office Media Wing, in a press release, quoted the prime minister as saying.
Since August 5, 2019, he said, India had taken a series of unilateral measures in IIOJK, accompanied by sweeping restrictions on fundamental freedoms. These measures, affecting the political, legal, and demographic character of the territory, had drawn serious international attention.
"Pakistan has consistently called for these developments to be addressed in accordance with international law and the applicable United Nations Security Council resolutions," he emphasized. On this solemn occasion, the prime minister also paid tribute to the countless Kashmiri men, women, and children who had offered immense sacrifices in pursuit of their rights.