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Pakistan will commemorate the fifth anniversary of India’s revocation of Kashmir’s special autonomy by observing Youm-i-Istehsal (Exploitation Day) on Monday, according to state media reports.
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif led a high-level meeting on Saturday to finalize preparations for the nationwide event. The observance aims to express solidarity with Kashmiris and highlight the ongoing dispute over the region.
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On August 5, 2019, India’s government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, repealed Article 370 of the constitution, stripping Jammu and Kashmir of its special status and dividing the former state into two union territories directly governed by New Delhi.
This move allowed non-Kashmiris to purchase property and settle permanently in the region, raising concerns about potential demographic changes in the Muslim-majority area.
Pakistan introduced Youm-i-Istehsal in 2020 in response to India’s actions. This year’s observance will feature:
- A joint event with Pakistani and Kashmiri leadership
- Prime Minister Sharif’s visit to Muzaffarabad, where he is expected to deliver a policy statement
- Solidarity walks and ceremonies across all provinces, Azad Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan
- Special broadcasts highlighting alleged human rights violations in Kashmir
The Pakistani government has called on the international community to pressure India to restore Kashmir’s special status and address the ongoing conflict.
Foreign Secretary Syrus Sajjad Qazi recently briefed Islamabad-based diplomats on the situation in Indian-held Kashmir, discussing the implications of India’s 2019 actions from legal, human rights, and security perspectives.
As tensions persist, Pakistan continues to advocate for a resolution to the longstanding Kashmir dispute, which it views as a threat to regional stability.
