The military and civilian leadership of Pakistan on Wednesday marked Youm-e-Istehsal on Wednesday, linking just and lasting peace in South Asia to the peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute.
Pakistan annually marks Youm-e-Istehsal (Exploitation Day) on the anniversary of India’s revocation of the disputed region’s special autonomy in 2019. In separate statements, President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and the military leadership reaffirmed the country’s solidarity with the people of India-held Kashmir.
In his statement, the president paid tribute to Kashmiris’ “courage, resilience and commitment to their just struggle for the realization of their inalienable right to self-determination.” He noted that seven years had passed since India’s “illegal and unilateral actions” of revoking the region’s special autonomy.
“These actions cannot change the legal status of the dispute, nor can they weaken the resolve of the Kashmiri people,” he said. “For seven years, millions of Kashmiris have continued to live under severe restrictions that have 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 added.
Zardari said Pakistan remained unwavering in its moral, political and diplomatic support for the people of occupied Kashmir. “We will continue to raise our voice at every international forum until the Jammu and Kashmir dispute is resolved in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people,” he said, linking just and lasting peace in South to the peaceful resolution of Kashmir dispute. He urged the international community to play its role in addressing the human rights situation in the occupied valley.
“To my Kashmiri brothers and sisters, I say: Pakistan stands firmly with you. Your courage in the face of adversity inspires us. You are not alone. The people of Pakistan will continue to stand by you until your legitimate right to self-determination is realized,” he added.
The prime minister also noted that that despite the passage of seven years, the legal status of India-held Kashmir remained unchanged and had not diminished the legitimate aspiration of its people.
“Instead, they have deepened repression, undermined fundamental freedom, and accelerated attempts to alter the demographic composition of the occupied territory through unlawful legislative and administrative measures,” he said. “The continued suppression of the genuine Kashmiri political leadership, restrictions on civil liberties, and curbs on independent media, remain a matter of serious concern,” he added.
“Despite these challenges, the courage, resilience and steadfastness of the Kashmiri people remain unshaken. Their peaceful and just struggle for the realization of their unalienable right to self-determination continues to inspire generations and commands the respect and support of all those who believe in justice, human dignity and the rule of international law,” he said, emphasizing that the Kashmir dispute remained the “principal unresolved issue affecting peace and stability in South Asia.”
Stressing that lasting peace cannot be achieved through coercion or unilateral action, he linked the same to a peaceful settlement in accordance with the aspirations of the Kashmiri people and the relevant UNSC resolutions. “The international community must move beyond expressions of concern and play its rightful role in advancing a just and durable resolution of the dispute,” he said, maintaining a peaceful and just resolution remained a cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign policy.
He vowed that 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”.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, in his message, called on the international community to fulfil its “long-overdue responsibility” for the peaceful resolution of the dispute. He said India’s actions of Aug. 5, 2019, presented a “grave challenge” to the established international framework and expressed solidarity with the people of the region.
“We reaffirm our unwavering support for their fundamental rights, as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and reflected in the relevant UNSC resolutions,” he said, adding that events of Aug. 5, 2019 remained a “matter of deep concern.”
Reiterating that lasting peace and stability in South Asia can only be achieved through the resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the aspirations of the Kashmiri people and the relevant UNSC resolutions, he said Pakistan would continue to raise its voice on international forums for a “just and peaceful settlement of the dispute.”
Armed forces
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), in a statement, said Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, and the Armed Forces of Pakistan had expressed solidarity with the people of India-held Kashmir.
It said the armed forces remained steadfast in their support for the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination, describing it as an inalienable right recognized under international law and the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions. The military leadership also voiced concern over continued occupation of India-held Kashmir by Indian security forces.
It noted the scenic valley remained under military siege and accused India of committing widespread human rights violations while attempting to alter the region’s demographic composition. “The continued illegal occupation of the IIOJK by Indian security forces, marked by military siege, rampant human rights violations and attempts to alter the demographic composition of the territory, remains a matter of serious concern,” it said. “Such actions, coupled with provocative rhetoric and belligerent posturing, serve only to exacerbate regional instability and perpetuate human suffering,” it added.
According to military’s media wing, durable peace in South Asia cannot be achieved without a just and peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. It said any lasting settlement should be in line with the aspirations of the Kashmiri people and the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.
“The people and Armed Forces of Pakistan pay solemn tribute to the martyrs of IIOJK and reiterate their enduring commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Kashmiri people in their just and rightful struggle for freedom,” it added.