ISLAMABAD: Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control, across Pakistan and around the world are observing Black Day to protest India’s control of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir.
The day is marked in connection with the events of October 1947, when Indian forces entered Jammu and Kashmir amid the dispute over the future of the princely state. Kashmiri accounts also recall mass killings attributed to Dogra forces and Hindu mobs during the final days of October and early November 1947.
The Kashmir dispute has remained unresolved for decades, with Kashmiri leaders continuing to demand the right to self-determination. They accuse India of maintaining strict security restrictions, suppressing political dissent and committing human rights violations in the region.
According to figures cited by Kashmiri groups, more than 97,000 Kashmiris have been killed since 1990, while thousands, including pro-independence leaders, are reportedly held in Indian prisons. These figures and claims require independent verification.
On Black Day, protests, rallies and other events are held in Pakistan and elsewhere to draw international attention to the Kashmir dispute. Participants call on the international community to support a peaceful resolution in accordance with the aspirations and rights of the Kashmiri people.