ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is observing Youm-e-Istehsal Kashmir today with nationwide rallies, public events, and solidarity ceremonies to reaffirm its unwavering support for the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and to condemn India’s constitutional changes of August 5, 2019.
The day is commemorated every year to highlight Pakistan’s stance on the Kashmir issue and to express support for the Kashmiri people’s internationally recognized right to self-determination. Government institutions, political parties, civil society organizations, and citizens are participating in events across the country to mark the occasion.
Special programmes have been arranged in Islamabad and other major cities. A central rally is being held on Constitution Avenue in Islamabad, where federal ministers, members of parliament, political leaders, diplomats, and people from different walks of life are taking part. At 9:00 am, sirens were sounded across the country, followed by a one-minute silence to pay tribute to the sacrifices of the Kashmiri people.
Similar rallies, seminars, conferences, and awareness campaigns are also taking place throughout Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), and Gilgit-Baltistan, where participants are expressing solidarity with Kashmiris and calling for a peaceful resolution of the dispute.
In separate messages issued on Youm-e-Istehsal Kashmir, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s continued political, diplomatic, and moral support for the people of IIOJK. They praised the resilience and determination of the Kashmiri people, saying their struggle for the right to self-determination continues despite years of hardship and restrictions.
The country’s leadership stated that August 5, 2019, remains a significant date because India unilaterally revoked the special constitutional status of Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan maintains that the move was contrary to international law and the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.
The President and Prime Minister said that the passage of time has not altered the internationally recognized disputed status of Jammu and Kashmir, nor has it diminished the aspirations of the Kashmiri people. They reiterated that Pakistan would continue to raise the Kashmir issue at regional and international forums until a peaceful settlement is achieved in accordance with UN resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people.
They also emphasized that sustainable peace in South Asia cannot be achieved without a just and lasting resolution of the Kashmir dispute. According to the leadership, dialogue and diplomacy remain the only viable path to ensuring long-term regional stability.
Pakistan once again urged the international community, including the United Nations and global human rights organizations, to play a more active role in facilitating a peaceful solution to the dispute. The government called for renewed international efforts to encourage dialogue, uphold human rights, and support a resolution that reflects the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
As Youm-e-Istehsal Kashmir is observed across the country, Pakistan’s leadership and citizens have collectively reaffirmed their commitment to standing with the people of Kashmir and supporting a peaceful resolution of one of South Asia’s longest-running disputes.
