Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have renewed their support for the people of Indian-administered Kashmir, calling for what they described as a peaceful and just resolution of the Kashmir dispute on Youm-e-Istehsal Kashmir, also known as Kashmir Day.
In separate messages marking the anniversary of India’s decision to revoke the region’s special constitutional status in August 2019, both leaders said Pakistan remained committed to supporting Kashmiris’ right to self-determination.
President Zardari said lasting peace in South Asia depended on resolving the Kashmir dispute in line with international law and United Nations Security Council resolutions. He described India’s constitutional changes of August 5, 2019 as unilateral and said they could not alter the internationally recognised disputed status of Jammu and Kashmir.
He said Pakistan would continue to provide what he described as political, diplomatic and moral support to the people of Kashmir.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif accused India of intensifying efforts to change the demographic composition of Indian-administered Kashmir since 2019.
He also expressed concern over restrictions on political activity, civil liberties and the media in the territory.
Mr Sharif said the Kashmir dispute remained one of the region’s longest-running unresolved issues and urged the international community to play a more active role in seeking what he called a fair and lasting settlement.
He also called on the international community to take notice of alleged human rights violations in Indian-administered Kashmir and urged India to reverse the measures introduced in August 2019.
India maintains that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of the country and has previously defended its constitutional changes as an internal matter aimed at improving governance and development in the region.
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