Pakistanis around the world and Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control (LoC) observed “Black Day” on Sunday “to reject India’s illegal occupation of Kashmir” on October 27, 1947.
A complete shutdown was observed in occupied Kashmir, said Radio Pakistan.
Prime Minister Imran Khan in a recorded statement, aired on Sunday, assured the Kashmiri people that “all of Pakistan is standing by you”.
Addressing the Kashmiri people, he said the purpose of his address was to convey a message to them that Prime Minister Imran was their counsel and their spokesperson.
27 OCTOBER #KashmirBlackDay pic.twitter.com/p5kvkKa4ci
— Tehreek-e-Insaf (@InsafPK) October 27, 2019
He said that the United Nations had already recognised their right of self-determination and that he would continue his struggle until Kashmiris get their rights.
The premier reiterated that those talking about military support or “jihad” in occupied Kashmir are enemies to Pakistan as well as Kashmiri people.
Addressing the nation, the premier said that the Indian government has stationed 900,000 army personnel in occupied Kashmir to terrorise people. “This is their [the Indian government’s] objective,” he said.
The prime minister said that the Indian government is looking for excuses to unleash military power on the Kashmiri people. He added that the Indian government wants to stage a Pulwama-style incident.
“The Modi government wants to hold Pakistan responsible [for unrest in Kashmir] and hide from the world what they are doing in Kashmir,” he said.
Prime Minister Imran said that the Modi government wants to crush the Kashmiri people and subject them to cruelty while using this [any military support from Pakistan] as a justification.
“It is a political struggle,” he reminded the nation.
Frustration, anger and fear have been growing in the region since August 5, when the Indian government stripped occupied Kashmir of its semi-autonomous status and imposed a curfew and a communications blackout. With a brief restoration in some call and text services for mobile phone services, the clampdown has now continued for over 80 days.
Black Day observed
Earlier in the day, the premier in a statement on Twitter had said this Kashmir Black Day is distinct from other years, Radio Pakistan reported.
He had said that on Oct 27, 1947, India had illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir and on Aug 5 of this year, “it took further steps to unilaterally alter the disputed status of the territory and change its demographic structure and identity”.
Message from President of Islamic Republic of Pakistan Dr. Arif Alvi on Kashmir Black Day.#KashmirBlackDay#Kashmirhttps://t.co/BT2KSo6IYO
— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) October 27, 2019
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qurershi assured Kashmiris “that not only do we commemorate their exemplary grit and spirit on the occasion of Kashmir Black Day” but also “reiterate our firm and continued political, moral and diplomatic support to the people of IOJ&K in their grand struggle until they achieve their legitimate right of self-determination as per the United Nations Security Council resolutions”.
“India should realise it cannot fool the world forever and that its tried and trite accusations of terrorism, while simultaneously being the principle perpetrator of it, have little import with the international community,” said Qureshi in his message.
