Today, the Kashmiris all over the world are observing Youm-e-Istehsal (Day of Exploitation) to mark three years since the imposition of a brutal siege for the people of IIOJK.

On 5 August 2019, India revoked the special status of IIOJK and put the territory under military siege in gross violation of the UN Resolutions and international law. It was a crime against humanity that has destroyed lives, crippled livelihoods, and imperiled the very identity of the people of IIOJK. The Kashmiris have been made prisoners in their own homes.

The people of Kashmir have been subject to worst kind of tyranny and despotism. The three generations of Kashmiris have lived their lives in an open-air prison. India has turned the valley of Kashmir into the most heavily militarized part of the world where life is anything but normal. In a blatant disregard of all international norms and democratic values, India is gerrymandering through an illegal delimitation process to change the Muslim majority into minority in the occupied territory.

Without a just and long-term resolution of Kashmir dispute in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people, the dream of regional connectivity and economic integration cannot be realized.

Throughout the Kashmiris’ struggle, Pakistan will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with its Kashmiri brethren until they realize their inalienable right to self-determination through free and impartial plebiscite under the auspices of the United Nations as per the relevant UNSC Resolutions.

Tashkent
5th August 2022