Message from Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, on ‘Kashmir BlackDay’ – 27 October 2024

October 27h marks a somber turning point in the history of Jammu and
Kashmir. On this day, seventy-seven years ago, Indian forces made their first landing
in Srinagar, marking the beginning of a prolonged and painful chapter for the region.
Over the past seven decades, India has employed various strategies to
strengthen its control over Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

However, since August 5, 2019, we have witnessed an accelerated effort to
undermine the internationally recognized disputed status of IIOJK and to
marginalize the rights and voices of the Kashmiri people.

The actions taken by Indian authorities including attempts to alter the
demographic and political landscape of the territory, stand in direct violation of
relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the Fourth Geneva Convention.
Despite these measures, the resolve of the Kashmiri people to achieve their right to
self-determination remains undeterred.

Today, the region is witnessing an intensification of repression. Thousands of
political leaders and activists remain behind bars, with 14 political parties effectively
banned. Draconian emergency and counterterrorism laws grant Indian forces
sweeping powers, enabling them to arrest or eliminate any individual and destroy
property at will. Nonetheless, the spirit and determination of the Kashmiri people
endure, as they continue their peaceful struggle for justice and self-determination.

While elections for the Legislative Assembly of IIOJK have recently been
conducted, any such exercise, carried out under the framework of the Indian
Constitution and amidst an overwhelming military presence, cannot be considered a
substitute for the legitimate right to self-determination of the Kashmiri people.

Pakistan remains committed to promoting peace in South Asia and seeks
constructive relations with all its neighbors. However, lasting peace in the region
cannot be realized without a just and peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir
dispute, in line with the UN Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the
Kashmiri people. Pakistan stands in unwavering solidarity with the Kashmiri people in their just
struggle and will continue to provide its full political, moral, and diplomatic support
for the realization of their inalienable right to self-determination.