Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid tribute to Kashmiris on Thursday and vowed “to keep standing by them in their just struggle” to mark the 75th anniversary of the illegal occupation of Kashmir by India.

In his message on Black Day, PM Shehbaz highlighted the significance of the day, saying it was a testament to “Kashmiris’ legendary courage and resilience they have shown in standing up to the Indian occupation forces over the last 75 years”.

“Today, the people of Pakistan pay rich tribute to Kashmiris and vow to keep standing by them in their just struggle,” he said.

“The world should not turn a blind eye to Indian human rights abuses in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), which is a heavily militarized valley. Urge for freedom cannot be suppressed for long,” the PM said in a tweet.

“The 27th of October is observed as Black Day when India illegally, immorally, and forcibly occupied Jammu and Kashmir in 1947,” he said. “This day is a testament to Kashmiris’ legendary courage & resilience they have shown in standing up to the Indian occupation forces over the last 75 years.”

In his message, President Dr Arif Alvi reiterated Pakistan’s call for the immediate reversal of the Indian government’s illegal and unilateral actions of August 5, 2019, which stripped the valley of its special status under the Indian constitution.

The president also urged the international community to take practical steps to hold India accountable for its egregious human rights violations in IIOJK.

“We observe Kashmir Black Day to remember the sacrifices of our Kashmiri brothers and sisters in their just struggle for their right to self-determination by condemning the ongoing atrocities of Indian occupation forces over the last seven-and-a-half decades,” he remarked.

The president said the entire nation reaffirms unwavering support to their Kashmiri brothers and sisters in their just struggle for freedom.

IIOJK remains under Indian military siege, exacerbated by draconian curbs on fundamental freedoms of the people of the occupied territory, he added.

He said the situation had worsened considerably over the last three years with India’s illegal and unilateral actions of August 5, 2019.

“These actions violate the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions which stipulate that the final disposition of the State of Jammu and Kashmir would be made in accordance with the will of the people of Kashmir through a free and impartial plebiscite to be conducted under the auspices of the United Nations,” he commented.

Meanwhile, in a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto said, “Pakistan calls upon the international community to take practical steps to hold India accountable and Indian Government must reverse the unilateral and illegal actions of August 5, 2019, stop its egregious human rights violations in IIOJK, repeal the draconian laws and implement the relevant UN Security Council resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir.”

He said the events of the last three years have included repressive measures to create Hindu-dominated constituencies in Muslim-majority areas, issuance of millions of fake domicile certificates to non-Kashmiris, new laws on ownership of land and property, and expansion of voter rolls to include non-Kashmiri residents.

“I promise my Kashmiri brothers and sisters that their struggle and their sacrifices will not go in vain. The world can no more eschew its responsibility. We owe it to the Kashmiris,” he concluded.