Kashmiris Mark Black Day to Protest Indian Occupation

Kashmiris across the Line of Control and around the world are observing Black Day today to protest India’s illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir. The day marks October 27, 1947, when Indian troops invaded the region in violation of the Partition Plan. The All Parties Hurriyat Conference has urged people to observe the day to draw global attention to the ongoing conflict and the urgent need to resolve the Kashmir dispute.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in separate messages, reaffirmed Pakistan’s strong support for the Kashmiri people. They called October 27 one of the darkest days in the region’s history. Both leaders said that India’s occupation continues to cause immense suffering and that the struggle for self-determination must not be forgotten.

President Zardari said generations of Kashmiris have faced violence, repression, and the denial of basic rights under Indian rule. He strongly condemned India’s unilateral actions on August 5, 2019, which aimed to alter the demography of the occupied territory. He also urged the United Nations and the international community to hold India accountable for human rights violations and to ensure the implementation of UN resolutions.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said India continues to deny Kashmiris their inalienable right to self-determination. He condemned India’s harsh laws, the imprisonment of Kashmiri leaders, and the restrictions on free speech and movement. He emphasized that Pakistan has repeatedly raised the issue globally and will continue to advocate for the freedom of the Kashmiri people.

The Prime Minister reaffirmed that the people of Kashmir are not alone in their struggle. He said that 240 million Pakistanis stand united with them in their pursuit of freedom and justice. As Black Day is observed, calls for international attention grow stronger, reminding the world of the long-standing dispute that still demands a fair and lasting solution.

Read More:Kashmiris observe Black Day on India’s Republic Day

The All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) and other pro-freedom organizations gave the call for marking this day as Black Day. A complete shutdown was observed in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) as a symbolic protest to highlight the misleading narrative of India’s democracy.

APHC leaders in Srinagar stated that India has no moral right to celebrate its Republic Day in a region it has occupied against the will of its people. They appealed to the international community to pressure India to fulfil its promises of granting Kashmiris their right to self-determination.