Youm-e-Istehsal: DPM Dar urges India to end oppression in IIOJK

Islamabad (Web Desk): Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar addressed a rally in Islamabad to mark Youm-e-Istehsal, calling for India to reverse its actions taken on August 5, 2019, regarding Jammu and Kashmir.

Speaking at the event that began at the Foreign Office and concluded at D-Chowk, Dar demanded an immediate halt to what he described as India's oppressive tactics in the region and urged the lifting of the continuing media blackout in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir.

He reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering support for the people of Kashmir, emphasizing that the country would persist in offering moral, political, and diplomatic backing until the Kashmiri people are granted their fundamental right to self-determination.

“Kashmir remains a dispute recognized at the international level, and any attempts to alter its status through legislative measures or court decisions within India are invalid and unacceptable,” DPM Dar said.

Expressing concern over recent reports suggesting New Delhi's intention to restore statehood to Jammu while keeping the Kashmir Valley as a Union Territory, Dar strongly criticized the move, calling it both provocative and unjust. He warned that such developments could further inflame tensions in the already volatile region.

Reiterating Pakistan's commitment to peace and regional stability, the Deputy Prime Minister clarified that Islamabad prefers dialogue and diplomacy over conflict.

However, he cautioned that Pakistan’s desire for peaceful coexistence should not be seen as a sign of weakness, asserting that the nation and its military are fully prepared to defend their sovereignty, as demonstrated in previous confrontations such as the Marka-e-Haq.

Also speaking at the rally, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar described Kashmir as an integral part of Pakistan’s identity, referring to it as the nation’s jugular vein. He expressed confidence that the day will come when Kashmiris will be able to freely choose their future through the right to self-determination.

Tarar pledged that Pakistan would continue to raise the Kashmir issue on all global platforms.
Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan, Engineer Amir Muqam, also addressed the gathering, labeling August 5, 2019, as a day of infamy in the region's history.

He noted that the unilateral revocation of Kashmir's special status was never accepted by the Kashmiri people, and reaffirmed Pakistan's support for their ongoing resistance to Indian rule.

The event marked six years since India revoked Article 370, a move that stripped Jammu and Kashmir of its special constitutional status—a decision that has drawn criticism from Pakistan and been the focus of continued diplomatic tension between the two countries.