ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: As Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control (LoC) and the world over are observing the Indian Republic Day as Black Day on Wednesday, Pakistan has reaffirmed its solidarity with the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
In response to media queries, the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said that today, when the Kashmiris in IIOJK and around the world mark January 26 as a black day against India’s oppression, the government and people of Pakistan reaffirm their unshakable resolve to continue to raise their voice and extend all possible support for the right of self-determination of the people of IIOJK.
The Spokesperson said that it is deplorable that in the past few days, the Indian occupation forces have further intensified the military siege already in place in the occupied territory for more than seven decades.
Coercing innocent Kashmiris to hoist Indian flags on the Republic Day is typical of India’s high-handedness to project a false sense of ‘normalcy’ and a hopeless attempt at masking its systematic and widespread oppression, he said.
Asim Iftikhar said that the Indian government’s decision to award so-called gallantry awards to the personnel of its occupation forces is yet another afront to the dignity of the countless victims of India’s state-terrorism characterized by gross human rights violations, extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, suspension of fundamental freedoms, rapes, and the use of draconian laws such as Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Public Safety Act with complete impunity.
The Spokesperson said that on different occasions, Pakistan has presented to the UN and the international community evidence of crimes against humanity being perpetrated by the Indian occupation forces in IIOJK.
The Spokesperson reiterated that the international community must hold India to account for its oppression, and play its due role in enabling the Kashmiris to exercise their inalienable right to self-determination as pledged to them under the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, without any further delay.
