PM, COAS reaffirm unwavering support for Kashmiris
Shehbaz notes India’s occupation of Kashmir ‘defining conflict’
Says just resolution of IIOJK dispute key pillar of Pak foreign policy
Dar fears India mulling over restoring Jammu’s statehood, retaining Kashmir as union territory
Monitoring Desk
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday said that the just resolution of Jammu and Kashmir dispute was a key pillar of Pakistan’s foreign policy and urged the international community to play a role in halting Indian human rights crimes in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
On the occasion of Youm-e-Istehsal, the prime minister urged the global community to press India to reverse its unilateral and illegal actions of August 5, 2019; repeal draconian laws and implement UN Security Council resolutions on Kashmir.
Meanwhile, COAS Field Marshal Asim Munir, along with the CJCSC, naval chief, chief of air staff and the Pakistan Armed Forces have reaffirmed their unwavering solidarity with the resilient and courageous people of IIOJK.
The armed forces of Pakistan fully support the legitimate and ongoing struggle of the Kashmiri people for their inalienable right to self-determination, as enshrined in international law and UN Security Council resolutions, the statement read.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif further termed India’s occupation of Kashmir the “defining conflict” of South Asia as Pakistan marked six years since New Delhi deprived the occupied region of its special autonomy.
“India’s illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir remained the defining conflict of the South Asia region, and the driver of India’s continued rogue behaviour,” PM Shehbaz said in a statement.
The premier also recalled the recent India-Pakistan conflict, noting: “India’s unprovoked aggression against Pakistan in May 2025, and its swift and comprehensive military defeat are only the latest evidence of the urgent need for the international community to ensure that the resolution of the Kashmir dispute becomes a global priority.
“The will and aspirations of the Kashmiri people, in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions, are the only path forward,” he stressed.
PM Shehbaz noted that a “just resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute was a key pillar of Pakistan’s foreign policy”.
The prime minister reiterated “strongest condemnation” of India’s illegal and unilateral actions to alter the demographic structure and political landscape of India-occupied Kashmir.
He also flayed India’s efforts to silence genuine Kashmiri leaders as part of the “wider hegemonic and extremist agenda” that informed its illegal occupation of the disputed region.
“The imprisonment of Kashmiri leaders and activists, including Shabbir Ahmed Shah, Muhammad Yasin Malik and Masarrat Alam Bhatt, will never dim the resolve of our Kashmiri sisters and brothers,” he asserted.
Urging the international community to play a role in halting human rights crimes in IoK and reversing the 2019 action, the premier reaffirmed Pakistan’s “unflinching” stance, moral, political and diplomatic support to the Kashmiri people.
Meanwhile, in his statement, President Asif Ali Zardari also referred to the recent conflict with India, emphasising that “this year’s ‘Youm-e-Istehsal’ assumes greater significance”.
“While the resounding success of the ‘Operation Bunyanum Marsoos’ is a matter of great pride for the people of Pakistan, the day also underscores the need for a settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, in accordance with the relevant UNSC resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people, for a lasting peace in South Asia,” the president said.
He highlighted that Indian authorities had taken a number of steps, aimed at changing the IoK’s demographic structure and political landscape, during the last six years.
“These measures include gerrymandering of the electoral constituencies, allowing addition of non-Kashmiris to electoral rolls, issuance of domicile certificates to outsiders, granting more powers to the lieutenant governor in administrative matters, and introduction of new laws on ownership of land and property,” he noted.
“The Kashmiri people are confronted with the danger of becoming a disempowered community in their own land. The genuine leadership of the Kashmiri people remains behind bars. The intimidation of innocent people, arbitrary detentions, and the so-called ‘cordon and search’ operations have become a matter of routine,” Zardari said.
Dar fears India mulling over restoring Jammu’s statehood, retaining Kashmir as union territory
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has expressed fears that the Modi administration is planning to restore the statehood of Jammu, while maintaining the union territory status for occupied Kashmir.
He remarked while addressing a rally taken in connection with Youm-e-Istehsal from the Foreign Office to D-Chowk in Islamabad on Tuesday.
“On August 5, 2019, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh were declared as union territory but now it’s being said that Jammu will be given a statehood,” Dar said while referring to the Indian media reports.
The deputy prime minister said the decision in this regard maybe announced in the next few hours or days.
Under the rumoured move, he said occupied Kashmir will remain a union territory. “This is all condemnable, unacceptable and provocative.”
Indian media reports claim that Indian president’s back-to-back meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah fuelled speculations that the government in New Delhi may start the process of restoring the occupied region’s statehood.
The development came as the Indian Supreme Court will hear an application seeking directions to the central government to restore the statehood of the IIOJK on Friday (August 8).
Dar urged India to revoke all illegal actions taken on August 5, 2019, end its oppressive measures in IIOJK, and lift the media blackout in the region.
He said Pakistan would continue extending diplomatic, political, and moral support to the Kashmiri people until their inalienable right to self-determination is realised.
He underscored that Kashmir is an internationally recognised dispute, and its future cannot be determined through internal legislation or court rulings.
The foreign minister also reiterated that Pakistan believes in peaceful coexistence, but its commitment to peace should not be mistaken for weakness. He affirmed Islamabad’s desire for friendly relations with all neighbouring countries and its preference for dialogue and diplomacy over confrontation.
Dar, however, warned that Pakistan’s armed forces and its people are fully capable of delivering a resolute response to any act of aggression — as demonstrated during Marka-e-Haq, the name given by the Pakistan Army to the period of conflict with India from the April 22 Pahalgam attack to the May 10 conclusion of Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos.
Armed forces reaffirm solidarity with people of IIOJK
On the occasion of Youm-e-Istehsal, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Chief of Army Staff, along with the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Chief of Naval Staff, Chief of Air Staff, and the Pakistan Armed Forces, reaffirmed their unwavering solidarity with the resilient and courageous people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
The Armed Forces of Pakistan fully support the legitimate and ongoing struggle of the Kashmiri people for their inalienable right to self-determination, as enshrined in international law and UN Security Council resolutions.
The continued illegal occupation of IIOJK by Indian security forces—characterized by an unrelenting military siege, systemic human rights violations, and demographic engineering—constitutes a grave breach of international norms and remains a matter of deep concern.
India’s repressive actions, coupled with its belligerent posture and incendiary rhetoric, serve only to exacerbate regional instability and perpetuate human suffering.
It is unequivocally evident that durable peace in South Asia remains unattainable without the just and peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, in accordance with the aspirations of the Kashmiri people and relevant UN resolutions.
The Pakistan Armed Forces pay solemn tribute to the martyrs of IIOJK and reiterate their enduring commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Kashmiri people in their just and rightful struggle for freedom.
Pakistan to continue advocating Kashmir cause to expose Indian atrocities: Tarar
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar said on Tuesday that Pakistan has been advocating the cause of the Kashmiris at every forum to protest against Indian illegal occupation and expose human rights violations committed by Indian Armed Forces in Kashmir.
“Pakistan will continue its moral, political and diplomatic support to the Kashmiris till realisation of goal of freedom”, Attaullah Tarar reiterated the commitment while addressing the participants of the Kashmir Youm-e-Istehsal rally.
The minister said that Kashmiri people were not alone in their struggle, the state of Pakistan and people of Pakistan firmly stood with them.
He said August 5 was the darkest day in history as on this day, India attempted to illegally usurp Kashmiris fundamental rights by abolishing Article 370 and 35A.
The minister said that bonds between Kashmiris and Pakistan were eternal which can never be broken by any Indian conspiracy.
He reminded that dead bodies of martyred Kashmiris like youth icon Burhan Wani were wrapped in colour of Pakistan’s flag, which was manifestation of Kashmiris love and affection for Pakistan.
He said that for past over seven decades in general and after August 5, 2019 India has been committing unprecedented atrocities in the paradise-like valley of Kashmir.
About military stand off with India, he said when Indain PM Modi cast a malicious eye, the Pakistani forces gave him a befitting response.
” India was not only defeated in the military arena, it was also humiliated in the field of narrative and on the diplomatic front” Attaullah Tarar remarked.
Attaullah Tarar said that the victory in the Ma’arka-e- Haq has boosted the morale of Kashmiri masses.
He said Pakistan’s Armed Forces destroyed India’s pride besides downing its war planes.
The minister lauded the efforts of Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan Engineer Amir Muqam in highlighting the Kashmir cause at international level.
He said Kashmir was part of Pakistanis blood and an integral part national heritage.
