Islamabad (HRNW)- Kashmiris across the world are observing Kashmir Exploitation Day today to mark the seventh anniversary of India’s August 5, 2019 decision to revoke the special constitutional status of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir.
The day is observed to express support for the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination and to condemn India’s unilateral decision of August 5, 2019, through which Articles 370 and 35A of the Indian Constitution were revoked.
Special events have been organized across Pakistan to mark the occasion.
A rally is being held on the Constitution Avenue in Islamabad, with the participation of federal ministers, members of parliament, and people from various walks of life. Sirens were sounded at 9:00 a.m., followed by a one-minute silence to express solidarity with the people of Kashmir.
Similar rallies and events are being organized across all four provinces, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also issued separate messages on the occasion.
President Zardari said that lasting and just peace in South Asia is linked to the peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. He reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering solidarity with the people of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir and paid tribute to the courage and sacrifices of the Kashmiri people in their struggle for the right to self-determination.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that India has intensified efforts to alter the demographic composition of the disputed territory. He expressed concern over the suppression of political leadership, restrictions on civil liberties, and limitations on media freedom in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir.
The Prime Minister said that despite these challenges, the courage and determination of the Kashmiri people remain steadfast. He added that the Jammu and Kashmir dispute remains the most fundamental and long-standing issue affecting peace and stability in South Asia.
He further urged the international community to move beyond expressions of concern and play a responsible role in achieving a just and lasting resolution of the dispute, reiterating that a peaceful settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir issue remains a central pillar of Pakistan’s foreign policy.
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