Support for Kashmiris reaffirmed at Kashmir Black Day event at Pakistani Embassy in Washington
Kashmir’s potential to spark nuclear war must not be overlooked: Amb. Rizwan Sheikh
Washington: At an event commemorating Kashmir Black Day, held at the Pakistani Embassy in Washington, D.C., speakers reaffirmed Pakistan’s steadfast moral, political, and diplomatic support to the people of the Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK)
According to Kashmir Media Service, the event drew members of the Pakistani-American community, academia, think tanks, media, and civil society, who expressed solidarity with the Kashmiri people, and highlighted the ongoing humanitarian and political crises in IIOJK.
Messages from the President of Pakistan, Prime Minister, and the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister were read out.
A special feature of the event was the launch of the book “Jammu and Kashmir – The Forgotten Narrative: From Distorted Origins to Denied Freedom” authored by Saud Sultan.
In his remarks, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, thanked the speakers and participants for their contributions and reiterated the critical importance of preserving the truth and legality of the Kashmir dispute. “The fact that Kashmir has the capacity to trigger a war between two nuclear neighbours should not be lost in any analysis”, said Ambassador Sheikh, pointing out that Pakistan’s long-held position on the disputed nature of IIOJK is recognized under United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions. He drew parallel between the issues of Kashmir and Palestine, describing both as struggles rooted in the inalienable right to self-determination and the fulfillment of the promises enshrined in UN resolutions. “UN resolutions on Kashmir share a common genesis with those on Palestine, both are grounded in the right of people under occupation to decide their own future,” he said. “The solution lies in discussing the dispute, seeking its peaceful resolution in accordance with UNSC resolutions, international commitments, and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people,” added the Ambassador.
Distinguished speakers at the event paid tribute to the courage and resilience of the people of IIOJK in their struggle against repression and occupation. They lauded Pakistan’s proactive diplomacy in bringing renewed international attention to the Kashmir issue, describing the past year as a period of significant diplomatic accomplishment for Pakistan.
In his remarks, Former Ambassador Tauqir Hussain lauded Saud Sultan’s book as a meticulously researched counter to decades of distorted global perceptions, proving India’s 1947 occupation as a premeditated conspiracy. He assessed that evolving geopolitics presented opportunities for Kashmir, citing Pakistan’s effective response to India’s May aggression that exposed both New Delhi’s recklessness and weakness. The ambassador urged redoubled Pakistani and Kashmiri efforts, affirming that true sovereignty stemmed from people’s will, not coerced accession documents.
Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai, Secretary-General of the World Kashmir Awareness Forum, urged hope for Kashmiris amid ongoing struggle, citing President Trump’s mediation offer after facilitating a May 2025 ceasefire. DR. Fai demanded unconditional release of jailed leaders APHC chairman Masarrat Alam Butt, Yasin Malik, Shabbir Shah, and— calling them “three Nelson Mandelas” who represented Kashmiri aspirations.
