"Speakers Call for Implementation of Security Council Resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir at Youm-e-Istehsal CommemorationNew York, August 6, 2026: The Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the United Nations, jointly with the Consulate General of Pakistan in New York, commemorated the seventh anniversary of Youm-e-Istehsal (Day of Exploitation) with a well-attended event at the Chancery Building.The event brought together members of the Pakistani and Kashmiri diaspora, diplomats, academics, students and civil society representatives to reaffirm solidarity with the people of Jammu and Kashmir and renew the international call for the implementation of the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions guaranteeing their right to self-determination.Consul General of Pakistan in New York, Mr. Aamer Ahmed Atozai, delivered the opening remarks. Speakers included Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai, Secretary General of the Kashmir Awareness Forum; Shahal Khoso, academician and research analyst; Taj Khan, Kashmiri leader and activist; and Sardar Sawaar Khan, veteran Kashmiri leader. Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations, delivered the keynote address.In his address, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad reaffirmed Pakistan's unwavering political, diplomatic and moral support for the Kashmiri people's inalienable right to self-determination. He stated that Pakistan has consistently championed the Kashmir cause at every international forum and will continue to expose India's human rights violations in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).Describing the illegal and unilateral measures of 5 August 2019 as a watershed that intensified decades of occupation and repression, he emphasized that the legal foundation of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute remains intact under the UN Charter and the relevant Security Council resolutions.Ambassador Asim Iftikhar said that Pakistan has consistently exposed India's grave human rights violations in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and has worked tirelessly to raise international awareness about the suffering of the Kashmiri people. He said whether at the United Nations, in other multilateral forums, or through sustained diplomatic engagement, Pakistan has sought to keep the international community focused on the plight of the Kashmiris and to ensure that their voices are neither ignored nor forgotten. This remains a sacred duty for Pakistan, he said.Stressing that successful freedom movements require strategic patience, international legitimacy, continuity and sustained support, he underscored Pakistan's enduring commitment to the Kashmiri people and highlighted the Mission's continued efforts at the United Nations to keep the Jammu and Kashmir dispute high on the international agenda.The Pakistan Permanent Representative said that by grounding its position in international law, the Charter of the United Nations and the relevant Security Council resolutions, Pakistan has helped preserve the legal basis of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute and kept it firmly on the international agenda. He said that the statement of the United Nations Secretary-General on 8 August 2019 reaffirmed that the UN's position on Jammu and Kashmir continues to be governed by the UN Charter and the applicable Security Council resolutions; and that the Secretary-General called on parties not to take steps affecting the status of Jammu and Kashmir. He also referred to remarks by the Secretary-General's Spokesperson given on August 5 reaffirming the continued relevance of those resolutions, underscore that the legal foundation of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute remains intact.Throwing light on the efforts of the Pakistan Mission, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said that Mission has continued to play a proactive role in keeping the Jammu and Kashmir dispute high on the international agenda. He said that through sustained engagement with the United Nations, the Security Council, Member States, international media and civil society, the Mission has worked tirelessly to highlight the human rights situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, reaffirm the legal basis of the dispute, and advocate the implementation of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions. He said that these efforts reflect Pakistan's unwavering commitment to ensuring that the voice of the Kashmiri people continues to resonate within the international community.In his opening remarks, Consul General Aamer Ahmed Atozai reiterated Pakistan's principled position that a just and lasting settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute can only be achieved in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people. He condemned India's illegal measures of 5 August 2019 and the continuing human rights violations, demographic changes and political repression in IIOJK, while commending the Pakistani and Kashmiri diaspora for their steadfast advocacy of the Kashmir cause. He noted that India's illegal and unilateral actions of 5 August 2019 constituted an attempt to alter the internationally recognized disputed status of Jammu and Kashmir and have since been accompanied by serious human rights violations, demographic changes, and political repression in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).Secretary General of Kashmir Awareness Forum, Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai, highlighted the international legal basis of the Kashmiri people's right to self-determination under the UN Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the relevant Security Council resolutions. He expressed concern over demographic changes, land acquisition policies and continuing human rights violations in IIOJK, while paying tribute to the late Syed Ali Geelani's lifelong commitment to the Kashmir cause and Pakistan.Dr. Fai also highlighted the recommendations made by international human rights mechanisms concerning the situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), emphasizing that these carry significant international credibility and reinforce the need for accountability. He expressed grave concern over what he described as India's ongoing efforts to alter the demographic composition of the occupied territory through the issuance of approximately 4.7 million domicile certificatesto non-Kashmiris and an extensive land acquisition campaign. Paying tribute to the late Syed Ali Geelani, he recalled his unwavering commitment to the Kashmir cause and cited his oft-quoted assertion that "Accession to Pakistan is part of my faith," describing it as a reflection of Geelani's steadfast conviction and lifelong dedication to the Kashmiris with the people of Pakistan.Academic and researcher Shahal Khoso emphasized that the Kashmir issue remains underrepresented in global academic and policy discourse despite its international significance. He called for sustained investment in Kashmir studies, research fellowships and academic engagement to strengthen evidence-based advocacy and ensure that the issue receives the international scholarly attention it deserves.Kashmiri leaders Taj Khan and Sardar Sawaar Khan paid tribute to Pakistan's unwavering political, diplomatic and moral support for the Kashmiri people. They urged the United Nations to fulfil its commitment by implementing its resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir, called for greater unity among Kashmiris and Pakistanis, and reaffirmed that their shared struggle for the realization of the right to self-determination would continue until justice is achieved.During the event, Second Secretary Aleena Majeed, Second Secretary Muhammad Rashid, and First Secretary Sarfraz Gohar read out the messages of the President, the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister of Pakistan, respectively, issued on the occasion of Youm-e-Istehsal. A documentary highlighting the human rights situation in IIOJK was also screened. The proceedings were conducted by Counsellor Saima Saleem."