A protest rally was held in Islamabad on Monday to mark Black Day, denouncing Indian atrocities in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). The rally was organized by the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Information.
The march began from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and proceeded towards D-Chowk on Constitution Avenue. It was led by Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs Engineer Amir Muqam, Foreign Secretary Aamna Baloch, and Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andarabi.
Officials from the Jammu & Kashmir Liberation Cell, civil society members, Hurriyat representatives, and a large number of government employees participated in the demonstration. Students from schools and colleges also joined, carrying banners and placards expressing solidarity with the Kashmiri people.
The rally aimed to highlight Kashmiris’ long-standing demand for the right to self-determination and to draw international attention to the ongoing human rights violations in the region.
Addressing the participants, Federal Minister Amir Muqam termed October 27, 1947 — the day Indian troops first entered Srinagar — as a “dark day in history.”
“Kashmiris have endured 78 years of Indian oppression, yet their courage remains unbroken,” he said. “Despite Indian occupation, they remain steadfast in their demand for self-determination, as recognized by UN resolutions.”
The minister further stated that since August 5, 2019, India has intensified its efforts to suppress Kashmir’s identity and demographic composition.
“Thousands have been arrested, homes demolished, and basic freedoms suppressed,” he said, calling it a grave human rights crisis.
He emphasized that Pakistan will continue to extend political, moral, and diplomatic support to the Kashmiri people until a just resolution is achieved.
“Peace in South Asia depends on the fair settlement of the Kashmir dispute,” he stated. “A day will come when justice and peace will prevail in Kashmir.”
