27th October marks one of the darkest chapters in the history of Jammu & Kashmir. On this day, seventy-two years ago, Indian security forces landed in Srinagar to occupy, oppress and terrorize the innocent people of Indian occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IOJ&K) in blatant violation of international law and morality.

The United Nations Security Council through several of its resolutions has upheld the fundamental right of the Kashmiri people to decide their own future through a fair and impartial plebiscite held under the UN auspices. Reneging on its repeated commitments to the international community to implement these resolutions, India has continued on the path of brutal suppression of the Kashmiri people to this day.

Since 5th August 2019, India has imposed an inhuman lockdown over 8 million people in IOJ&K. Use of torture, enforced disappearances and restrictions on freedom of movement and assembly are the stark realities today. Indian occupation forces are perpetrating unspeakable crimes against the Kashmiri people, including women and children, with complete impunity. The indefensible curfew and communications blackout, going on for nearly three months now, is illustrative of the state-terrorism that India has wreaked on innocent Kashmiris for decades. No matter how brutal its policies and tactics, India cannot crush the spirit of the Kashmiri people.

Today, we pay homage to the martyrs for the cause of Kashmir and honour all those who have suffered at the hands of Indian occupying forces. Pakistan reaffirms its unflinching moral, political and diplomatic support to the people of Indian occupied Jammu & Kashmir with the solemn pledge that this will continue until the realization of their legitimate right to self-determination.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019

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