PID Karachi Seminar Marks Kashmir Black Day, Reasserts Pakistan’s Resolve Against India’s Illegal Occupation

Karachi - The Press Information Department (PID), Karachi held a seminar on Saturday, to mark Kashmir Black Day, observed annually on 27 October, to condemn India’s illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir. The event was attended by officers from PID Karachi and the Directorate of Electronic Media and Publications (DEMP) Karachi.

The seminar was presided over by Director General PID Karachi, Ms. Iram Tanveer, while Dr. Nausheen Wasi, Assistant Professor at the University of Karachi, delivered an insightful lecture as the keynote speaker. The session aimed to revisit the historical background of the Kashmir issue and to reflect on its continuing impact on Pakistan’s foreign and domestic policy.

Dr. Nausheen highlighted that the Kashmir dispute remains central to Pakistan’s national narrative and foreign policy, shaping relations between Pakistan and India since independence. She explained the historical context of the conflict, tracing it to the 1947 partition when princely states were given the option to accede to either dominion. She detailed how the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir’s decision to accede to India on October 26, 1947, and India’s subsequent military intervention on October 27, triggered a chain of events that led to the first Indo-Pak war and the eventual division of the region along the Line of Control after the UN-brokered ceasefire.

She noted that despite the United Nations’ commitment to hold a plebiscite, the dispute remains unresolved due to unfulfilled demilitarization conditions and India’s reluctance to allow international mediation. Dr. Nausheen underscored that the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 and the rise of Hindutva politics under Prime Minister Narendra Modi have drastically worsened the situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). She described how the region has been transformed into one of the most heavily militarized zones in the world, where fundamental freedoms are curtailed, media is silenced, and Kashmiri voices are suppressed through arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, and communication blackouts.

Dr. Nausheen observed that Modi’s Hindutva-driven policies, rooted in religious extremism, aim to systematically erode the demographic and cultural identity of Kashmir through settler colonization, revocation of property rights, and suppression of political dissent. This ongoing oppression was termed a “blatant violation of human rights and international law".

Reflecting on Pakistan’s policy orientation, she remarked that the Kashmir conflict has deeply influenced Pakistan’s security posture, contributing to militarization at the cost of socio-economic development. She emphasized the need to balance national dignity with diplomatic maturity, advocating for a shift from a securitized national narrative towards one that prioritizes education, health, and poverty alleviation.

In her concluding remarks, DG PID Karachi Ms. Iram Tanveer appreciated the engaging discussion and reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to the just cause of the people of Kashmir. She stressed the importance of continuing to highlight the plight of Kashmiris through factual, responsible, and compassionate storytelling that reinforces Pakistan’s moral and diplomatic stance.

The seminar concluded with a vote of thanks and a reaffirmation of solidarity with the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir in their ongoing struggle for freedom and self-determination.