Seminar on Youm-E-Istehsal (Exploitation Day), Jammu & Kashmir: 5 August 2023

A Seminar was held today at the Pakistan High Commission Pretoria, South Africa,to mark Youm-e-Istehsal (Exploitation Day), Jammu & Kashmir 2023. The day marked the completion of four years since India’s illegal action of revoking the special autonomous status of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu Kashmir (IIOJK).

The speakers included several members of parliament from South Africa, politicians representing various political parties, intellectuals, academics, diplomats, journalists and human rights activists. The event was attended by a large number of local South Africans and members of the Pakistani community in South Africa.

Speakers and participants strongly condemned India’s illegal action of 5 August 2019 and the atrocities committed by the Indian security forces in the illegally occupied territory. They urged an early resolution of the Jammu Kashmir dispute according to the wishes of the people of Jammu Kashmir as enshrined in UN Security Council Resolutions. They also paid tribute to the martyrs of Kashmir, the freedom struggle and reaffirmed their unwavering support to the freedom of the people of the Jammu and Kashmir.

In his remarks, High Commissioner Aftab Hasan Khan highlighted the illegal nature of Indian actions of 5 August 2019 which was in clear violation of international law and the UN Security Council resolutions. The High Commissioner also exposed the deployment of additional two hundred thousand Indian forces into the already most militarized zone in the world, inhuman curfew, denial of basic human rights and communication blackout imposed in Kashmir, virtually locking down over 9 million Kashmiris into an open prison. The High Commissioner condemned India’s malicious campaign to convert the Muslims in IIOJK from a majority to a minority by issuing domiciles to non-Kashmiris.

The High Commissioner stressed that the innocent Kashmiris are looking upto the International community for solidarity and it is the responsibility of all peace loving people of the world to stand with the Kashmiris in their just struggle for their inalienable right to self-determination. The High Commissioner called upon the Indian Government to restore the special autonomous status of Jammu and Kashmir and to hold a free and impartial plebiscite under the UN auspicious as per the UNSC resolutions.

Pretoria

04 August 2023