By Stellamaries Amuwa, Abuja
The High Commission of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in Nigeria has issued a statement marking Youm-e-Istehsal (Day of Exploitation), observed annually on August 5 to denounce India’s 2019 revocation of Article 370 and the subsequent bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories.
In a statement released Tuesday in Abuja, the Pakistani envoy condemned the Indian government’s move, describing it as illegal and unilateral, and an effort to undermine the internationally recognised disputed status of Jammu and Kashmir and deprive the Kashmiri people of their right to self-determination.
The High Commission emphasised that the abrogation of Article 370, which previously granted semi-autonomous status to Jammu and Kashmir was a tipping point in the decades-long dispute, with grave consequences for the region’s political future and human rights conditions.
“Article 370 enabled Kashmiris to independently manage their internal affairs, barring critical areas such as foreign policy and defense. Its revocation brings Kashmiris closer to a state they do not identify with,” the statement read.
The Commission accused the Indian government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, of exploiting the constitutional change for political gains aligned with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s electoral agenda and the interests of the right-wing RSS movement. It also highlighted that the constitutional change was enacted at a time when no elected government was in place in Jammu and Kashmir.
Rejecting India’s claim of normalcy in the region, the statement said Kashmiris have endured severe human rights violations since 2019, including restrictions on movement, freedom of speech, and the threat of violence from security forces.
The High Commission also recalled the United Nations Security Council Resolution 47 and historical promises made by India’s early leadership, including Mahatma Gandhi, to conduct a plebiscite in the region.
In light of recent military tensions between the two countries, the Pakistani statement linked Youm-e-Istehsal to a broader regional context, citing the successful execution of Pakistan’s Operation Bunyan-ul-Marsoos as a demonstration of national resolve.
The mission, it said, further underscores the urgency of finding a peaceful resolution to the Jammu and Kashmir issue based on UN resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
“Pakistan will continue to extend unwavering political, diplomatic, and moral support to the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir,” the High Commission concluded.
Youm-e-Istehsal was first observed in 2020 and has since become a symbolic day for Pakistan to voice solidarity with Kashmiris and advocate for international intervention in the longstanding dispute.
