By TRN Online, Kathmandu, Oct. 27: The Embassy of Pakistan in Nepal today held a talk programme on Kashmir to commemorate the 'Kashmir Black Day'.

Prominent politicians, analysts, scholars and eminent journalists participated in an hour-long programme, according to a press release issued by the embassy.

The talk programme was entitled “Consequences of Illegal Occupation of Kashmir”.

Pakistan and Kashmiris observe 27^th October as the Kashmir Black Day to protest what they call illegal occupation of Kashmir on 27th October in 1947 when India deployed troops to Srinagar in an intervention and occupied Jammu & Kashmir.

In the programme, message of President of Pakistan Arif Alvi was read out in which the President paid tribute to the Kashmiris on their resilience in their just struggle for the right to self-determination.

"In his message, Prime Minister Imran Khan reaffirmed Pakistan’s resolute support for the Kashmiri brothers and sisters. He reiterated Pakistan’s solidarity with the Kashmiri people until realization of their legitimate and inalienable right to self-determination, in accordance with the United Nations Charter and relevant UN Security Council Resolutions. Prime Minister Khan demanded immediate lifting of the military siege and communications blockade as well as rescinding of India’s illegal and unilateral actions in IIOJK in violation of numerous UNSC resolutions" read the press release.

"Prime Minister Khan called for the release of all those arbitrarily arrested and illegally incarcerated. He demanded access for international human rights and humanitarian organizations, as well as the international media, so as to investigate the grave human rights situation in the occupied territory".

In his message Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi highlighted that IIOJK had been under continuous Indian military siege for the last 18 months, with Kashmiris virtually caged in their own houses, reeling under communications blockade, and facing severe media restrictions.

The Charge d’Affaires Adnan Javed Khan recalled the genesis of the long-festering dispute and numerous UNSC resolutions which enshrined the promise not just from the United Nation but from the international community to the people of Jammu and Kashmir about their right to self-determination. The non-implementation of these resolutions had subjected several generations of the people of IIOJK to grave injustices, sufferings and jeopardized the peace and stability of the entire region.

Speaking at the event, participants expressed serious concerns on the media / information blockade and pointed that unresolved status of Jammu and Kashmir dispute has posed the biggest challenge to peace in South Asia.