ISLAMABAD – Pakistan marked Youm-e-Istehsaal on Tuesday to show i people’s struggle for freedom. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar led a rally in Islamabad. The event began at the Foreign Office and ended at D-Chowk. It saw participation from federal ministers, Hurriyat leaders, students, and citizens. Dar reaffirmed that Pakistan will continue diplomatic, political, and moral support for Kashmir. He urged India to honor United Nations resolutions and grant Kashmiris their right to self-determination.
Dar strongly criticized India’s actions in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). He called the move to strip Kashmir’s special status on August 5, 2019, illegal and unacceptable. He demanded India revoke those steps and end its media blackout and oppression in the region. According to Dar, Kashmir is a global issue that cannot be resolved by Indian laws or court rulings. He also condemned reported plans to grant Jammu statehood while keeping the Valley a Union Territory.
نائب وزیراعظم اور وزیر خارجہ، سینیٹر محمد اسحاق ڈار ، کا یومِ استحصَال کے موقع پرویڈیو پیغام
بھارت گزشتہ 78 برسوں سے کشمیری عوام کو ان کے حقِ خودارادیت سے محروم رکھے ہوئے ہے۔ 5 اگست 2019 کے بعد اس نے ظلم و جبر، آبادیاتی تبدیلی، ذرائع ابلاغ پر قدغن ، اور سیاسی کارکنوں کی گرفتاری… pic.twitter.com/H1SgVSaPB6
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) August 4, 2025
While advocating for peace, Dar warned against underestimating Pakistan’s strength. He stressed Pakistan’s desire for regional peace through dialogue and diplomacy. However, he added that the country remains fully prepared to respond to aggression. He cited past military operations as proof of Pakistan’s capabilities. Dar repeated that Pakistan’s peaceful stance does not reflect weakness but commitment to stability.
Other leaders also shared strong messages of support. Minister Attaullah Tarar said Kashmir is Pakistan’s jugular vein and vowed to keep raising their voice globally. Kashmir Affairs Minister Engineer Amir Muqam called August 5 the blackest day in Kashmir’s history. He accused India of trying to change Kashmir’s demography illegally. Both leaders expressed confidence in the eventual freedom of Kashmiris. They stressed that India’s occupation has never been accepted by the Kashmiri people.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also released a statement on the occasion. He urged the world to act against India’s human rights abuses in Kashmir. He called for the reversal of India’s actions and the implementation of UN resolutions. Pakistan’s armed forces, led by Field Marshal Asim Munir, expressed full support for the Kashmiri struggle. Military leaders declared their unity with the people of IIOJK. Youm-e-Istehsaal continues to be observed nationwide to highlight India’s 2019 actions and honor Kashmir’s ongoing resistance.