The Consulate General of Pakistan in New York, together with Pakistan’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, held a significant event in New York to mark Youm-e-Istehsal Kashmir, or the Day of Exploitation, underscoring Pakistan’s ongoing support for the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). The gathering brought together members of the Pakistani-American and Kashmiri diaspora, civil society, diplomats, academics, and media professionals, reflecting a deep commitment within the community to the Kashmir cause.
At the event, Consul General Aamer Ahmed Atozai opened with remarks honoring the resilience and sacrifices of the Kashmiri people amid what he described as a prolonged period of occupation and oppression. He criticized the Indian government’s actions of August 5, 2019, which he said were designed to change the demographic and political landscape of Jammu and Kashmir, in contravention of international law and multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions. Emphasizing the global relevance of the issue, the Consul General called on the international community to hold India to account for human rights violations and to support Kashmiris in their pursuit of self-determination.
Official messages from the President, Prime Minister, and Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister of Pakistan were presented, all reiterating Pakistan’s firm diplomatic, political, and moral commitment to the Kashmir issue.
In his keynote speech, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, compared the policies of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Kashmir to those of other repressive regimes, particularly criticizing what he termed as demographic engineering and denial of basic rights in IIOJK. He stated that Pakistan continues to pursue peaceful solutions and has actively raised the Kashmir dispute at the United Nations.
Additional speakers included Ambassador Hameed Opeloyeru, Permanent Observer of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to the UN, Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai, Secretary General of the World Kashmir Awareness Forum, Dr. Abdulhamid Siyam, an academic and journalist, and Dr. Asif-ur-Rehman, a prominent Kashmiri community leader. They all condemned ongoing human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir and expressed strong solidarity with the Kashmiri population in its quest for freedom and justice.
The event concluded with a clear statement of Pakistan’s resolve to continue advocating for the rights of the Kashmiri people and maintaining international attention on the issue until a resolution is achieved in line with United Nations Security Council resolutions.
