Shafaqna Pakistan: President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in their separate have reaffirmed unwavering solidarity with the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) on Youm-e-Istehsal Kashmir and paid tribute to their courage, resilience and commitment to their just struggle for the realisation of their inalienable right to self-determination.
President Asif Ali Zardari said millions of Kashmiris had continued to live under severe restrictions that had affected every aspect of daily life.
“Families have endured uncertainty, young people have seen their opportunities constrained and entire communities have continued to bear the burden of prolonged conflict and instability.
Despite these hardships, the people of Jammu and Kashmir have remained steadfast in their pursuit of justice and their legitimate right to determine their own future,” he said.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed that peaceful and just resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute remained a cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign policy and Pakistan would continue to extend its diplomatic, political and moral support and raise the voice of the Kashmiri people at every regional and international forum.
He said Pakistan called upon the international community to urge India to end its human rights violations in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), reverse its illegal and unilateral measures introduced since August 2019, repeal the draconian laws imposed upon the people of Jammu and Kashmir and create conducive environment to enable the peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, through the exercise of the right to self-determination by the Kashmiri people in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.
Pakistan’s Armed Forces have reaffirmed their unwavering solidarity with the people of the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) on the occasion of Youm-e-Istehsal, renewing their commitment to support the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination in accordance with international law and relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.
In a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Wednesday, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces, Admiral Naveed Ashraf, Chief of the Naval Staff, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, Chief of the Air Staff, and the Armed Forces of Pakistan collectively expressed their continued support for the people of IIOJK.
The military leadership reiterated its steadfast backing for what it described as the legitimate struggle of the Kashmiri people to exercise their inalienable right to self-determination, stressing that this right is recognised under international law and the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.
According to the statement, Pakistan’s Armed Forces stand firmly with the resilient and courageous people of IIOJK and remain committed to supporting their cause.
The ISPR statement said the continued occupation of IIOJK by Indian security forces remains a matter of serious concern. It referred to what it described as a prolonged military siege, widespread human rights violations and attempts to alter the demographic composition of the territory.
The statement further said that such actions, together with provocative rhetoric and belligerent posturing, contribute to regional instability and prolong human suffering.
It added that these developments continue to have wider implications for peace and security across South Asia.
The Armed Forces stated that lasting peace and stability in South Asia are intrinsically linked to a just and peaceful settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.
The statement emphasised that such a settlement should be achieved in accordance with the aspirations of the Kashmiri people and the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.
On the occasion of Youm-e-Istehsal, Pakistan’s Armed Forces also paid solemn tribute to the martyrs of IIOJK and reiterated their enduring commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Kashmiri people in what the statement described as their just and rightful struggle for freedom.
