ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has urged the international community, particularly the United Nations and global rights organisations, to back efforts aimed at protecting the basic freedoms of the Kashmiri people and resolving the long-simmering Jammu and Kashmir dispute.

“Jammu and Kashmir Black Day is, therefore, not merely a day of remembrance. It is also an occasion to reaffirm our commitment to a peaceful and just resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.

“Lasting peace, stability and prosperity in South Asia remain closely linked to the resolution of this longstanding dispute, in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people,” President Asif Ali Zardari said in his message.

He reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering moral, diplomatic and political support to the people of IIOJK. “We will continue to raise their voice at every appropriate international forum and to advocate the realisation of their legitimate aspirations.”

On Jammu and Kashmir Black Day, we solemnly remember October 27, 1947, when Indian forces landed in Srinagar, marking the beginning of a prolonged and tragic chapter in the history of Jammu and Kashmir, he said.

This day reaffirms our recognition of the longstanding aspirations of the Kashmiri people and the continued pursuit of the fundamental and inalienable right to self-determination.For the past eight decades, the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) have endured profound sufferings, marked by violence, repression and serious violations of fundamental rights.

Generations of Kashmiris have made immense sacrifices in their pursuit of justice, dignity and freedom. Their resilience and determination in the face of adversity remain a testament to the enduring strength of their cause.

“The continuing restrictions on fundamental freedoms, heightened militarisation, arrests and reports of human rights violations remain a matter of serious concern and underscore the need for sustained international attention.

The situation has further deteriorated since August 5, 2019, when India unilaterally attempted to alter the constitutional and legal status of Jammu and Kashmir,” President Zardari said. Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif said the people of Jammu and Kashmir have been denied the realization of their inalienable right to self-determination, as affirmed in the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.

“The people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) have endured immense hardship, suffering and repression. Yet their courage, resilience and unwavering resolve to secure their fundamental rights remain undiminished. The sacrifices of successive generations stand as a powerful testament to their enduring commitment to freedom, dignity and justice,” he said.

The prime minister said that Pakistan has consistently called for these developments to be addressed in accordance with international law and the applicable United Nations Security Council resolutions.

“Pakistan’s position on Jammu and Kashmir remains clear, consistent and principled. Lasting peace and stability in South Asia cannot be achieved without a just and peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.”

He paid tribute to the countless Kashmiri men, women and children who have offered immense sacrifices in pursuit of their rights.Chairman Senate Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani also urged the international community must play an effective role for a just and fair resolution of the Kashmir dispute to establish lasting peace, stability and prosperity in South Asia.

Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani stated that the Kashmir dispute remains a key pillar of Pakistan’s foreign policy and is fundamentally linked to the establishment of peace in the region. He emphasized that the Kashmiri people must be allowed to determine their own future freely.

Chairman Senate said that Kashmir Black Day serves as an important reminder to the international community of its responsibility to take meaningful and effective measures to ensure that the Kashmiri people are granted their internationally recognized right to self-determination.

Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs, Gilgit-Baltistan & SAFRON said that for nearly eight decades, the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir have faced prolonged political uncertainty, restrictions on fundamental freedoms and serious human rights concerns.

Yet through successive generations, the people of IIOJK have demonstrated remarkable resilience and an enduring determination to preserve their identity, dignity, and political aspirations. Their sacrifices deserve to be remembered with respect and their voices deserve to be heard.

Unilateral changes to the constitutional and administrative framework, restrictions on political activity and fundamental freedoms, prolonged detentions, and measures affecting the demographic and political character of the territory have intensified concerns about the future of its people.

These developments cannot be divorced from the broader question of the status of Jammu and Kashmir and its unresolved international dimension, he said. The minister said that the continuing tensions between Pakistan and India also underscore the importance of resolving the issues that lie at the heart of instability in South Asia.

Published in Dawn, October 27th, 2026