President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have reaffirmed Pakistan's unwavering support for the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), calling for a just and peaceful resolution of the longstanding dispute in accordance with relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
In his message on Kashmir Black Day, observed on October 27, President Zardari called upon the international community, particularly the United Nations and international human rights organisations, to take due cognisance of the human rights situation in IIOJK, support efforts to protect the fundamental rights of the Kashmiri people and contribute meaningfully towards a lasting settlement.
He reiterated that Pakistan would continue to extend its moral, diplomatic and political support to the people of IIOJK. "We will continue to raise their voice at every appropriate international forum and to advocate the realisation of their legitimate aspirations," he said.
President Zardari said Kashmir Black Day was not merely an occasion for remembrance but also an opportunity to reaffirm the commitment to a peaceful and just resolution of the dispute. He emphasised that lasting peace, stability and prosperity in South Asia remained closely linked to resolving the longstanding issue in line with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
Paying tribute to the sacrifices of the Kashmiri people, the president reaffirmed Pakistan's solidarity with them in their pursuit of justice, peace, dignity and the realisation of their right to self-determination. "The day is not far off when the people of Jammu and Kashmir will be able to determine their own future in accordance with their aspirations and the Jammu and Kashmir dispute will move towards a just and peaceful resolution," he added.
The president recalled October 27, 1947, when Indian forces landed in Srinagar, marking the beginning of what he described as a prolonged and tragic chapter in the history of Jammu and Kashmir. He said the people of IIOJK had endured decades of conflict, restrictions, violence and repression, with generations making immense sacrifices in their pursuit of justice, dignity and freedom.
President Zardari said continuing restrictions on fundamental freedoms, heightened militarisation, arrests and reports of human rights violations remained matters of serious concern and underscored the need for sustained international attention. He added that the situation had further deteriorated since August 5, 2019, when India unilaterally attempted to alter the constitutional and legal status of Jammu and Kashmir.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reiterated that Pakistan's position on Jammu and Kashmir remained clear, consistent and principled, stressing that lasting peace and stability in South Asia could not be achieved without a just and peaceful resolution of the dispute. In his message on Kashmir Black Day, he said the government and people of Pakistan reaffirmed their unwavering solidarity with the people of IIOJK, adding that the federal administration remains fully committed to highlighting the Kashmir cause globally.
He said Pakistan would continue to extend moral, diplomatic and political support to the Kashmiri people and advocate their legitimate rights at national and international forums. Recalling the events of October 27, 1947, the premier said the landing of Indian forces in Srinagar had marked the beginning of a tragic chapter whose effects continue to reverberate across generations.