On the sixth anniversary of Youm-e-Istehsal, Pakistan’s armed forces reaffirmed their unwavering support for the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

In their message issued on Tuesday, the military leadership — including Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Chief of Naval Staff, and Chief of Air Staff — expressed grave concern over what they termed a “continued illegal occupation” of IIOJK.

“The continued illegal occupation of IIOJK by Indian security forces — characterised by an unrelenting military siege, systemic human rights violations, and demographic engineering — constitutes a grave breach of international norms and remains a matter of deep concern,” the statement, released by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), read.

The military leaders emphasised that the armed forces of Pakistan “fully support the legitimate and ongoing struggle of the Kashmiri people for their inalienable right to self-determination,” a right enshrined in international law and reaffirmed through multiple United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.

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They condemned what they described as India's “repressive actions, belligerent posture, and incendiary rhetoric,” warning that these policies serve only to “exacerbate regional instability and perpetuate human suffering.”

Call for international action

The statement reiterated that lasting peace in South Asia remains elusive without a just and peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the wishes of the Kashmiri people and the relevant UN resolutions.

“It is unequivocally evident that durable peace in South Asia remains unattainable without the just and peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute,” the ISPR noted.

Pakistan’s armed forces also paid tribute to the martyrs of IIOJK, honouring those who have lost their lives while resisting Indian rule. The statement reaffirmed the military’s enduring commitment to “stand shoulder to shoulder with the Kashmiri people in their just and rightful struggle for freedom.”