KARACHI: Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs, Gilgit-Baltistan and SAFRON Engineer Amir Muqam said on Sunday that Pakistan would continue its political, moral, and diplomatic support for the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) until they achieved their right to self-determination.
Addressing a joint press conference with All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) leaders at Aiwan-e-Iqbal, he said October 27 would once again be observed as “Black Day” across Pakistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and among Kashmiri communities worldwide to condemn India’s “unlawful occupation” of the valley in 1947.
He said the day served as a reminder of India’s forcible entry into Jammu and Kashmir, which violated partition principles, international law, and United Nations resolutions. “Pakistan and its people stand shoulder to shoulder with their Kashmiri brothers and sisters and will continue to do so,” Muqam said.
The minister paid tribute to the “unmatched sacrifices” of the Kashmiri people, claiming that over 8,300 had been killed in fake encounters, more than 22,000 women widowed, and thousands of homes destroyed. “Over 900,000 Indian troops have turned the occupied valley into a prison,” he said, urging the UN and global powers to act on their pledges.
He added that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had raised the issue at international forums, exposing Indian “atrocities” and reaffirming Pakistan’s position on Kashmir. “The Kashmir issue is not the issue of one party; it is the issue of all Pakistanis,” Muqam said.
The minister announced that one minute of silence would be observed nationwide at 10am on Sunday to express solidarity with Kashmiris, alongside rallies and awareness events. “We are coordinating with all departments to ensure the observance of Black Day sends a clear message to the world that Kashmiris must be given their right to decide their future,” he said.
Commenting on Azad Jammu and Kashmir’s political situation, Muqam said while the AJK premier was “honest,” his government had failed to manage affairs, and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz would sit in opposition rather than join any coalition setup. He also urged the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister to “act within constitutional limits,” adding that no province should engage with foreign states independently.
APHC senior leader Syed Faiz Ahmad Nakshbandi thanked Pakistan’s government, people, and media for “keeping the Kashmir cause alive globally” and for exposing India’s human rights violations in the occupied territory. He reiterated that October 27 would be marked worldwide as a symbol of resistance and remembrance of India’s “illegal occupation.”
Nakshbandi said India’s continued military presence, enforced disappearances, and “draconian laws” such as the Armed Forces Special Powers Act had failed to suppress the Kashmiri struggle. “Our only goal is freedom and the right to self-determination,” he added.
