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On the fifth anniversary of India’s revocation of Kashmir’s special autonomy, Pakistan observes Youm-i-Istehsal (Exploitation Day) to show solidarity with Kashmiris. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif urged India to shift from “dispute denial to dispute resolution” for regional peace.
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On August 5, 2019, India’s government, led by Narendra Modi, stripped Kashmir of its special status by repealing Article 370 of the constitution. This action allowed non-Kashmiris to acquire property and settle in the region, raising concerns about demographic changes in the Muslim-majority area.
PM Sharif vowed continued support for Kashmiris’ right to self-determination, calling on the international community to ensure justice and peace. President Asif Ali Zardari criticized India’s actions as disregarding international laws and Kashmiri aspirations.
Across Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), protest rallies and events marked the day. In Islamabad, Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar addressed a rally, challenging India to allow foreign observers into Kashmir to assess the situation.
Dar accused India of an “intensified campaign to ‘Indianise’ Kashmir,” citing measures such as gerrymandering electoral constituencies and issuing domicile certificates to outsiders. He emphasized that Kashmir remains an internationally recognized disputed territory.
The Pakistan Armed Forces, through an ISPR statement, condemned Indian security forces’ actions in Kashmir as violations of international law. They reaffirmed support for Kashmiris’ struggle for self-determination.
As Pakistan continues to raise the Kashmir issue internationally, the day’s events underscore the ongoing tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors over the disputed region.
