MESSAGE BY THE FOREIGN MINISTER OF PAKISTAN TO MARK YOUM-E-ISTEHSAL (5 AUGUST 2021)

On this day today, marking twenty-four months since India’s illegal and unilateral actions of 5 August 2019, we honor sacrifices of Kashmiris and salute their indomitable spirit in their just struggle for inalienable right to self-determination. In violation of the United Nations Security Council Resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir and of international law, India tried to obliterate the distinct identity of the Kashmiri people. India hoped that by attempting to alter demographic structure of Indian Illegally occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK), it could dampen the spirit of the Kashmiri people or at the very least, make them compromise on their legitimate right to self-determination. On both counts, India has abjectly failed. These steps were forcefully rejected by Pakistan, the Kashmiris, and the international community. The unabated Indian repression including extra-judicial killings of innocent Kashmiris, unprecedented restrictions on freedom of speech, fake encounters, cordon-and-search operations, custodial torture and deaths, enforced disappearances, incarceration of Kashmiri leadership and youth, use of pellet guns, destruction and burning of houses, and other methods of subjugation have miserably failed to shake the resolve of the Kashmiri people. The Jammu and Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan has been on the agenda of UN Security Council since 1948. It remains an internationally recognized dispute, the solution of which is firmly anchored in the relevant UN Security Council resolutions in accordance with UN Charter and the wishes of the people of Kashmir. Regrettably, India has not fulfilled its commitments to the UN Security Council, Pakistan, international community and the Kashmiri people. The international community, human rights organizations, international media and the civil society have called India out on its tyranny in the region. World leaders and Parliamentarians have expressed concern and shown their support for the Kashmiris. More than 1.5 billion people of the region deserve to see the dawn of peace and prosperity which has been held hostage to the gross and systematic violations of human rights in IIOJK. Pakistan calls upon the international community to hold India accountable for its crimes against Kashmiris and demand that India reverses its illegal and unilateral actions of 5 August 2019, revoke draconian laws, cease all human rights violations, and stop its state-terrorism against the people of IIOJK. We express complete solidarity with the people of IIOJK and assure our Kashmiri brothers and sisters that the Government and people of Pakistan stand united with them. Pakistan will not relent in its support until the Kashmiris realize their legitimate right to self-determination in accordance with the United Nations Security Council resolutions.

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