COLOMBO : The High Commission of Pakistan here hosted a seminar and photo exhibition on Monday, 27 October to commemorate ‘Kashmir Black Day’, marking the decades-long denial of the right to self-determination to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
The event saw participation from diverse segments of the community, including members of the Pakistani diaspora in Sri Lanka, journalists, writers, and friends of Kashmir. Messages from the President, Prime Minister, were read out, underscoring Pakistan’s unwavering support for the Kashmiri people.
The seminar featured an address by Ms. Suriya Rizvi, a distinguished Pakistani Alumni, who illuminated the dire human rights situation and alleged atrocities in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). Ms. Rizvi highlighted the denial of the right to self-determination in 1947 as the root cause of the ongoing suffering, asserting that the region has been transformed into the “largest prison on the planet”.
Referring to the United Nations Security Council’s sessions on the Kashmir issue, Ms. Rizvi noted that the international community is increasingly aware of the situation and no longer remains a silent spectator to the alleged Indian actions.
Major General (R) Faheem Ul Aziz HI (M), High Commissioner of Pakistan, paid tribute to the resilience and just struggle of the people of Jammu and Kashmir against the illegal occupation.
In his concluding remarks, the High Commissioner reiterated Pakistan’s steadfast moral, political, and diplomatic support for the Kashmiris’ right to self-determination. He emphasized that Pakistan consistently advocates for a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute, in accordance with the aspirations of the Kashmiri people and in line with the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.
The event successfully highlighted the historical context and the urgent need for the international community to address the protracted conflict and human rights concerns in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
