Islamabad: President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif have reaffirmed Pakistan's unwavering solidarity with the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. In their separate messages on Youm-e-Istehsal Kashmir being observed today, they paid tribute to the Kashmiri people's courage, resilience, and commitment to their right to self-determination.
According to Radio Pakistan, the leaders stated that the day is being observed to remind the world of the grave consequences of India's illegal and unilateral actions in 2019, which were in flagrant violation of international law and relevant UN resolutions. They emphasized that seven years on, the unlawful actions have neither changed the legal status of Jammu and Kashmir nor diminished the legitimate aspirations of its people.
The President and Prime Minister reiterated that Pakistan will continue to raise its voice at every international forum until the resolution of this dispute. They asserted that peace in South Asia will remain elusive until this long-pending issue is resolved in line with UN resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
They further called upon the international community to urge India to end its human rights violations in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and to reverse its illegal actions of August 2019, thereby enabling a peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.
In a video message connected with Youm-e-Istehsal Kashmir, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar called upon India to cease all actions that undermine the internationally recognized disputed status of Jammu and Kashmir. He stated that it was on this day in 2019 that India took unilateral and illegal actions in the region, which sought to alter its disputed status.
Ishaq Dar highlighted that these actions represented a challenge to the established international framework governing the Jammu and Kashmir dispute and intensified hardships faced by the people of the territory. He urged India to take steps conducive to creating an environment for the peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute.
Ishaq Dar also called upon the international community, particularly the United Nations, to fulfill its long-overdue responsibility and make meaningful efforts to resolve the Kashmir dispute. He emphasized that lasting peace and stability in South Asia can only be achieved through the resolution of this dispute in accordance with the aspirations of the Kashmiri people and relevant UN resolutions. He affirmed that Pakistan stands in steadfast solidarity with the Kashmiri people and will continue to raise its voice and extend moral, diplomatic, and political support for their just right to self-determination.
