Pakistan stands shoulder to shoulder with Kashmiris: Amir Muqam
Islamabad: Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan, Engineer Amir Muqam, has said that Pakistan stands firmly with the people of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) in their just struggle for the right to self-determination and will continue to raise its voice for Kashmiris on all national and international forums.
According to Kashmir Media Service, addressing a joint press conference in Islamabad alongside the Convener of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference Azad Kashmir (APHC-AJK) chapter, Ghulam Muhammad Safi, Amir Muqam announced that August 5 will be observed across Pakistan as Youm-e-Istehsal-e-Kashmir (Kashmir Exploitation Day) to express solidarity with the oppressed Kashmiri people and to protest against India’s illegal and unilateral actions.
He recalled that on August 5, 2019, the Indian government abrogated Articles 370 and 35-A, stripping Jammu and Kashmir of its special constitutional status. He termed the move a deliberate attempt to rob Kashmiris of their identity, land, livelihoods, and legal rights. “India has turned occupied Kashmir into an open-air prison where thousands have been martyred, imprisoned, and subjected to inhuman torture,” he added.
Amir Muqam emphasized that Pakistan has consistently supported the Kashmir cause and that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has effectively highlighted the issue at international platforms including the United Nations, shaking the conscience of the world. He said rallies, protests, and public gatherings will be held across Pakistan on August 5 to show the world that the people of Kashmir are not alone in their freedom struggle — they have the full support of the Pakistani nation.
Speaking on the occasion, APHC-AJK Convener Ghulam Muhammad Safi expressed deep gratitude to the government, people, and civil society of Pakistan for their unwavering political, diplomatic, and moral support. He said Pakistan remains the guardian, hope, and ideological partner of Kashmiris.
“Kashmir is not an integral part of India; it is an internationally recognized disputed territory under illegal occupation by Indian forces. Kashmiris have never accepted this occupation and never will,” he stated.
Safi said that Kashmiris and Pakistanis across the world will hold protests, rallies, and seminars on August 5 to denounce India’s illegal actions. “The Hurriyat leadership does not accept Indian rule and is committed to continuing the struggle for self-determination at all costs,” he added.
He stressed that August 5 is a grim reminder that the Kashmir dispute remains an unresolved issue on the UN agenda that cannot be buried under the weight of military might or repression.
He urged the international community, the United Nations, the OIC, and global human rights organizations to increase pressure on India to reverse its illegal measures and grant the Kashmiri people their legitimate right to self-determination.
The press conference was also attended by Hurriyat leaders Haji Muhammad Sultan, Syed Ijaz Rehmani, Sheikh Yaqoob, Javed Iqbal, Imtiaz Wani, Chaudhry Shaheen, Muhammad Shafi Dar, and Mushtaq Ahmad Butt.
