WASHINGTON, Oct 28 (APP): Speakers marking Kashmir Black Day at the Pakistani embassy in Washington, D.C., reaffirmed Pakistan’s steadfast moral, political, and diplomatic support to the people of the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK)
Participating in the event were Pakistani-American community members, academia, think tanks, media, and civil society, who expressed solidarity with the Kashmiri people, and highlighted the ongoing humanitarian and political crises in IIOJK.
Messages from the President of Pakistan, Prime Minister, and the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister were read out.
A special feature of the event was the launch of the book “Jammu and Kashmir – The Forgotten Narrative: From Distorted Origins to Denied Freedom” authored by Saud Sultan.
In his remarks, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, thanked the speakers and participants for their contributions and reiterated the critical importance of preserving the truth and legality of the Kashmir dispute.
“The fact that Kashmir has the capacity to trigger a war between two nuclear neighbours should not be lost in any analysis. What is lawless can never be portrayed flawless through political or economic might” said Ambassador Sheikh, pointing out that Pakistan’s long-held position on the disputed nature of IIOJK is recognized under United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.
He drew parallel between the issues of Kashmir and Palestine, describing both as struggles rooted in the inalienable right to self-determination and the fulfillment of the promises enshrined in UN resolutions.
“UN resolutions on Kashmir share a common genesis with those on Palestine, both are grounded in the right of people under occupation to decide their own future,” said the Ambassador.
He also commended the role of U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration in facilitating the ceasefire between India and Pakistan. He emphasized the significance of dialogue between the two countries and the mediation proposition that formed part of the ceasefire.
“The solution lies in discussing the dispute, seeking its peaceful resolution in accordance with UNSC resolutions, international commitments, and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people,” added the Ambassador.
Distinguished speakers at the event paid tribute to the courage and resilience of the people of IIOJK in their struggle against repression and occupation. They lauded Pakistan’s proactive diplomacy in bringing renewed international attention to the Kashmir issue, describing the past year as a period of significant diplomatic accomplishment for Pakistan.
In his remarks, Former Ambassador Tauqir Hussain lauded Saud Sultan’s book as a meticulously researched counter to decades of distorted global perceptions, proving India’s 1947 occupation as a premeditated conspiracy. He assessed that evolving geopolitics presented opportunities for Kashmir, citing Pakistan’s effective response to India’s May 2025 Pahalgam aggression that exposed both New Delhi’s recklessness and weakness. The ambassador urged redoubled Pakistani and Kashmiri efforts, affirming that true sovereignty stemmed from people’s will, not coerced accession documents.
Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai, Secretary-General of the World Kashmir Awareness Forum, urged hope for Kashmiris amid ongoing struggle, citing President Trump’s mediation offer after facilitating a May 2025 ceasefire. DR. Fai demanded unconditional release of jailed leaders Yasin Malik, Shabbir Shah, and Masarrat Alam — calling them “three Nelson Mandelas” who represented Kashmiri aspirations.
Anwar Iqbal, Dawn’s Washington correspondent, reflected on Saud Sultan’s book as a “time machine” revealing Kashmir’s raw history. He lambasted India’s 2019 “merger” as a “bureaucratic tap dance on millions of heads,” mocking blackouts justified to “reduce confusion,” and contrasted Pakistan’s advocacy for Kashmiri rights with India’s suppression.
Renowned literary figure Dr. Arif Mehmood dilated upon the resistance movements in literature and how these expressions had kept the flames of freedom struggles alive.
Ms. Noreen Talat Arooba recited a poem on Kashmir that received applause.
The event concluded with Ambassador Sheikh extending his congratulations to Mr. Saud Sultan for his scholarly and objective contribution to the discourse on Kashmir and expressing gratitude to all participants for joining in solidarity with the people of IIOJK.