MUZAFFARABAD: As men, women and children held rallies across the country, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), on Thursday to condemn invasion of occupied Jammu and Kashmir by India on this day in 1947, Pakistan renewed its support to the just cause of Kashmiris, making it clear that their urge for freedom could not be suppressed for long through the use of brute force.

On Oct 27, 1947, India had landed its troops in Srinagar on the premise of an Instrument of Accession purported to have been signed by the then Hindu ruler of the princely state a day earlier after virtually losing authority in the face of a popular public revolt against the autocracy.

India occupied a large part of the valley and took the issue to the United Nations where it pledged to refer to the will of the Kashmiris through a free, fair and impartial plebiscite under the auspices of the world body. But the promise was never kept, which is why Kashmiris across the globe mark October 27 as ‘Black Day’.

“…This Day is a testament to Kashmiris’ legendary courage & resilience they have shown in standing up to the Indian occupation forces over the last 75 years,” said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in tweet.

Rallies held to condemn India’s breach of pledge at UN to hold a plebiscite

“Today, the people of Pakistan pay rich tribute to Kashmiris & vow to keep standing by them in their just struggle. The world should not turn a blind eye to Indian human rights abuses in IIOJK, which is a heavily militarized valley. Urge for freedom cannot be suppressed for long,” he added.

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari also paid tribute to the Kashmiris for rendering sacrifices in the struggle for the right to self-determination and reiterated Islamabad’s resolve to continue backing them in their endeavour.

“Oct 27 is the darkest day in the history of India which emerged as the worst dictator and colonialist country in the world 75 years ago,” he said.

AJK Prime Minister Sardar Tanveer Ilyas also took to Twitter to point out India’s about-face regarding the plebiscite and the worst-ever state-sponsored terrorism being perpetrated by it in the illegally occupied territory of Kashmir.

In Muzaffarabad, a large number of activists lined up behind large banners, inscribed with anti-India and pro-freedom slogans, at a bustling roundabout outside the press club. The demonstration was organised by Pasban-i-Hurriyat Jammu Kashmir, an organisation of post-1989 migrants from Indian occupied Kashmir.

Published in Dawn, October 28th, 2022