Kashmir black day observed in Kathmandu
Kathmandu, 31 October: Today, Pakistan Embassy organized a talk programme on “Consequences of Illegal Occupation” to commemorate the Kashmir Black Day. Seventy-five years ago, on 27 October 1947, India deployed troops to Srinagar in an unlawful intervention and illegally occupied Jammu & Kashmir. Since then Pakistan and Kashmiris observe this day as “Kashmir Black Day”. Prominent politicians, analysts, scholars and eminent journalists participated in the event. During the programme, messages from the Pakistani President, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister were read out to the participants present at the Embassy.
In his message, President Arif Alvi paid tribute to the Kashmiris for their resilience in their just struggle for the right to selfdetermination. President Alvi highlighted Indian state terrorism in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK), human rights violations and illegal & unilateral actions to deprive the Kashmiri people of their economic, political and land rights and change of demography of the IIOJK. In his message, Prime
Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Shareef reaffirmed Pakistan’s resolute support for the Kashmiri brothers and sisters. He reiterated Pakistan’s solidarity with the Kashmiri people until the realization of their legitimate and inalienable right to self-determination, following the United Nations Charter and relevant UN Security Council Resolutions. Prime Minister Shareef demanded the immediate lifting of the military siege and communications blockade as well as rescinding of India’s illegal and unilateral actions in IIOJK in violation of numerous UNSC resolutions.
Prime Minister Shareef called for the release of all those arbitrarily arrested and illegally incarcerated. He also called for the immediate repeal of draconian laws providing impunity to Indian occupation forces. He demanded access to international human rights and humanitarian organizations, as well as the international media, to investigate the grave human rights situation in the occupied territory. Foreign Minister Bilwal Bhutto Zardari in his message highlighted that the Jammu & Kashmir dispute has been a battle of hope against overwhelming odds, of courage against fear, and sacrifice against tyranny and paid rich tributes to all the martyrs for their ultimate sacrifice and their families for their resolve and perseverance. He called upon the international community to take practical steps to hold India accountable Indian government must reverse the unilateral and illegal actions of 5 August 2019; stop its egregious human rights violations in IIOJK; repeal the draconian laws and implement the relevant UN Security Council resolutions on Jammu & Kashmir.
The Charge d’Affaires (a.i.) Umair Ali recalled the genesis of the long-festering dispute and numerous UNSC resolutions which enshrined the promise not just from the United Nations but from the international community to the people of Jammu and Kashmir about their right to selfdetermination. The nonimplementation of these resolutions had subjected several generations of the people of IIOJK to grave injustices, and sufferings and jeopardized the peace and stability of the entire region.
Speaking at the event, participants expressed severe concerns about the media/information blockade, use of pellet guns, arrest of Kashmiri leadership and other inhuman actions of the Indian government which have been well documented in the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights reports. Miscellaneous reportings of Amnesty International and other international human rights organizations were also taken into account and India’s repressive measures in the disputed territory were criticized. The participants had a consensus that the unresolved status of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute has been the