ISLAMABAD, Oct 27 (APP): First Lady Bibi Asifa Bhutto Zardari on Tuesday reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to extending moral, diplomatic and political support to the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) in their pursuit of legitimate rights, including the right to self-determination.
In her message on Kashmir Black Day, observed on October 27, she expressed solidarity with Kashmiri women and children, highlighting the suffering they continue to endure amid the unresolved Jammu and Kashmir dispute.
Recalling October 27, 1947, when Indian forces landed in Srinagar, the first lady said the day marked the beginning of a prolonged period of suffering for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
She paid particular tribute to Kashmiri women who have endured profound loss and hardship, with many left to raise their children alone following the deaths or disappearances of their husbands and other family members. She stressed that the voices of mothers who have lost their sons, daughters growing up without fathers, and women seeking justice must be heard.
Asifa Bhutto Zardari also drew attention to the impact of prolonged conflict on children, noting that many have grown up amid fear, uncertainty and disruptions to their education and everyday lives.
She emphasised that every child has the right to education, proper healthcare, safe recreational spaces and a future free from fear. She urged the international community, human rights organisations and the United Nations to give serious attention to the emotional and psychological consequences of prolonged conflict on children.
The first lady reaffirmed her solidarity with Kashmiri mothers, daughters and children whose lives have been affected by the conflict, stressing that the rights, safety and future of women and children must remain central to international efforts to address the situation in IIOJK.
She further stated that nearly eight decades after the events of October 27, 1947, the right of the Kashmiri people to self-determination, recognised in relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, remains unfulfilled.
Emphasising the need for lasting peace in South Asia, she called for a resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the aspirations of the Kashmiri people and relevant UNSC resolutions.
On Kashmir Black Day, Asifa Bhutto Zardari remembered the mothers waiting for their loved ones, women shouldering the responsibilities of entire families, and children whose futures remain uncertain. She said their sacrifices must not be forgotten.
Expressing hope for a peaceful future, she said Kashmiri mothers should be able to raise their children in peace, girls should pursue education without fear, and every Kashmiri child should be able to look towards the future with hope and confidence.
She also highlighted the solidarity of the women and children of Pakistan with their Kashmiri counterparts, expressing the shared aspiration for a future in which they can live with freedom, security and the opportunity to shape their own future.
Source: APP (Associated Press of Pakistan)
