Rawalpindi, 05 August , 2026(Kamra Raja): On the occasion of Youm-e-Istehsal, Pakistan’s military leadership has reaffirmed its unwavering support for the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), reiterating the Armed Forces’ steadfast commitment to the Kashmiri people’s legitimate struggle for their internationally recognized right to self-determination. In a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces, Admiral Naveed Ashraf, Chief of the Naval Staff, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, Chief of the Air Staff, and the Armed Forces of Pakistan expressed complete solidarity with the people of IIOJK on Youm-e-Istehsal.

Observed annually on August 5, Youm-e-Istehsal marks the anniversary of India’s revocation of Article 370 of its Constitution in 2019, which altered the special constitutional status of Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan and Kashmiris across the world commemorate the day to highlight the ongoing Kashmir dispute and express solidarity with the people of the region. The ISPR stated that the right to self-determination of the Kashmiri people is an inalienable right recognized under international law and the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions. The statement emphasized that Pakistan’s Armed Forces remain resolute in supporting the aspirations of the Kashmiri people for a just and peaceful resolution of the dispute.

Expressing concern over the prevailing situation in IIOJK, the military leadership stated that the territory continues to remain under heavy military presence and alleged that widespread human rights violations and efforts to alter the demographic composition of the region remain matters of serious concern. The statement further noted that such actions, coupled with provocative rhetoric and aggressive posturing, contribute to regional instability and prolong the suffering of the Kashmiri people. The Armed Forces underscored that lasting peace and stability in South Asia cannot be achieved without a just, peaceful, and internationally recognized resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, in accordance with the aspirations of the Kashmiri people and the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions. Paying tribute to the martyrs of IIOJK, the military leadership reiterated Pakistan’s enduring commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of Jammu and Kashmir in their peaceful and legitimate struggle for freedom and self-determination.