Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on Tuesday called on India to revoke all illegal measures taken on August 5, 2019, in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), end repressive policies, and lift the ongoing media blackout in the region.
Addressing a rally marking Youm-e-Istehsal, which marched from the Foreign Office to D-Chowk, Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering diplomatic, political, and moral support to the Kashmiri people until they are granted their inalienable right to self-determination.
He stressed that Kashmir is an internationally recognized dispute that cannot be resolved through unilateral Indian legislation or court rulings. Expressing concern over reports that India may grant statehood to Jammu while keeping the Kashmir Valley as a Union Territory, Dar condemned such moves as “provocative and unacceptable.”
Underscoring Pakistan’s commitment to peaceful coexistence, Dar cautioned that this should not be mistaken for weakness, adding that Pakistan’s armed forces and people are fully capable of responding to any act of aggression, as demonstrated during the recent Marka-e-Haq.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar described Kashmir as Pakistan’s “jugular vein,” expressing confidence that the day is near when Kashmiris will achieve their right to self-determination. He vowed Pakistan would continue to raise the Kashmir cause at all international forums.
Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Engineer Amir Muqam termed August 5 the “blackest day” in Kashmir’s history, accusing India of revoking the region’s special status to alter its demography illegally. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s full diplomatic, political, and moral backing for the Kashmiri struggle.
The rally saw participation from federal ministers, politicians, Hurriyat leaders, students, and people from various walks of life, all uniting to express solidarity with the people of IIOJK.