Washington, D.C., 27 October 2026(Kamran Raja):The Embassy of Pakistan in Washington, D.C., marked Kashmir Black Day on Monday, reaffirming Pakistan’s support for the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination and calling for a resolution of the dispute in accordance with relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.
The event was attended by members of the Kashmiri diaspora, civil society representatives, students and media professionals. Special messages from Pakistan’s president, prime minister and deputy prime minister reiterated Islamabad’s commitment to raising the Kashmir issue at international forums and advocating a free and impartial plebiscite.
Addressing the gathering, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, emphasized the historical and legal dimensions of the dispute and urged continued international advocacy.
“It is our job. It is our cause. Yesterday, today, tomorrow, and the day after, not to quit. We cannot quit. You cannot quit your genesis,” he said.
Sheikh said the dispute required a sustained approach grounded in international law and UN resolutions. Referring to Jammu and Kashmir as an unfinished agenda of the partition of the subcontinent, he said unilateral measures could not replace an internationally agreed settlement.
The ambassador also called for coordinated advocacy by Pakistanis and Kashmiris in Washington, New York, Brussels and Jeddah, stressing the importance of consistency and legal accuracy in presenting the issue internationally.
Speakers at the event included Ali Raza Anar, president of the Foundation for American Security and Technology; Zulfiqar Ali Kazmi, executive director of The Common Grounds USA and president of Discover Pakistan TV; and Muwahid Hussain Shah, an attorney, author and policy analyst. They highlighted the humanitarian and political situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and called for sustained international attention to the Kashmiri people’s aspirations.
A documentary on the struggles and resilience of the Kashmiri people was also screened.
Concluding the event, Sheikh thanked participants for their solidarity and reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to supporting the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination through diplomatic engagement and international advocacy.