ISLAMABAD: October 27, 1947, is remembered as the darkest day in the history of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), marking 78 years since India’s illegal occupation of the disputed territory.
Across both sides of the Line of Control, as well as in Pakistan and among the Kashmiri diaspora worldwide, Kashmiris are observing Black Day today to renew their commitment to the struggle for freedom from Indian rule.
On this day in 1947, India forcibly took control of a large part of J&K. Despite decades of Indian occupation, Kashmiris continue their fight for self-determination, facing bullets, repression, and widespread human rights violations. In the last 34 years alone, nearly 100,000 Kashmiris have been killed.
According to United Nations resolutions, Kashmiris have yet to be granted their right to self-determination. The international community is being urged to play a decisive role in ensuring that Kashmiris are given the right to a plebiscite.
Every year, October 27 is observed as Kashmir Black Day around the world to draw attention to India’s aggression and human rights violations. Protests, rallies, and seminars are held to condemn Indian atrocities and highlight the ongoing struggle for freedom.
India has also revoked the special constitutional status of Jammu and Kashmir, a move widely rejected by Kashmiris who mark this day to protest against all illegal actions taken since 1947, including the August 5, 2019 decision to strip the region of autonomy.
At 10 a.m., one minute of silence will be observed across Pakistan to honor Kashmiri martyrs. Rallies are being held throughout Pakistan and Azad Kashmir to express solidarity with the oppressed people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
In Islamabad, banners reading “Kashmir Banega Pakistan” have been displayed along Constitution Avenue, Parliament House, and D-Chowk. A solidarity walk, led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from its headquarters to D-Chowk, saw participants urging the global community to take notice of the grave human rights abuses in IIOJK.
Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq, described October 27 as the darkest day for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He said India violated the principles of Partition by deploying its forces in Kashmir against the will of the people and occupying a large portion of the territory.
He added that India’s so-called Instrument of Accession has no legitimacy and was rejected by the United Nations. The people of Jammu and Kashmir have never accepted India’s illegal occupation, and every year on this day, Kashmiris across the world protest against Indian oppression.
Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq stated that India continues to commit serious human rights violations in IIOJK. In November 1947, Indian forces, along with the Dogra Army, RSS, and Akali militants, killed nearly 250,000 Muslims in Jammu. Since 1989, more than 96,000 civilians have been martyred.
He said that the lives, property, and dignity of Muslims in occupied Kashmir are no longer safe. The Kashmiri struggle is for their UN-mandated right to self-determination — a right that remains denied.
In Islamabad, a rally led by Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch was held from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to D-Chowk as part of the Black Day observance. Representatives of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, Foreign Office officials, and Members of Parliament participated. Upon reaching D-Chowk, a one-minute silence was observed at 10 a.m. in memory of Kashmiri martyrs. Across Pakistan and around the world, Pakistanis and Kashmiris are commemorating Black Day to condemn India’s occupation of Jammu and Kashmir on October 27, 1947.
President Asif Ali Zardari’s Message
President Asif Ali Zardari said that on this day in 1947, Indian forces entered Srinagar in blatant violation of international law and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people, beginning one of the darkest chapters in modern history.
He said that generations of Kashmiris have suffered unimaginable violence and repression under Indian occupation. Despite decades of brutality, their spirit of resistance remains unbroken.
Zardari noted that since August 5, 2019, India has intensified its campaign by revoking Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, imposing a military siege, destroying properties, and enforcing harsh laws that strip Kashmiris of basic freedoms. He condemned extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and efforts to turn Kashmiris into a minority in their own homeland.
The President emphasized that lasting peace in South Asia is impossible without a just and final resolution of the Kashmir dispute in line with UN Security Council resolutions. He urged the international community and human rights organizations to hold India accountable for its atrocities. Pakistan, he affirmed, will continue its unwavering diplomatic and political support for the Kashmiri people in their struggle for justice and self-determination.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s Message
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif called October 27 the darkest day in Kashmir’s history, marking the day Indian forces annexed Srinagar 78 years ago. He said India continues to deny the Kashmiri people their UN-recognized right to self-determination.
He paid tribute to the courage and resilience of Kashmiris who have endured decades of oppression and reaffirmed Pakistan’s solidarity with them.
The Prime Minister said that since August 5, 2019, India’s illegal actions have intensified, including attempts to alter IIOJK’s demography and political structure. Severe restrictions on movement and expression, along with unlawful detentions of political leaders and journalists, reflect India’s extremist agenda.
Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s consistent and principled stance that peace in South Asia will remain elusive without resolving the Kashmir dispute as per UN resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people. He assured Kashmiris that the people of Pakistan stand firmly with them in their struggle for freedom, pledging continued political, diplomatic, and moral support until the promise of self-determination is fulfilled.
History
On October 27, 1947, Indian forces entered the region without any constitutional or moral justification. At the time of Partition, Kashmir’s local leadership had decided to accede to Pakistan, but Maharaja Hari Singh sought military assistance from India in exchange for accession.
Since then, India has deployed nearly one million troops in the Muslim-majority territory, turning it into one of the most militarized regions in the world. The people of occupied Kashmir have endured decades of oppression and violence.
On August 5, 2019, India further revoked the region’s special constitutional status, tightening its control over the valley. Human rights groups report that Indian forces have killed around 200,000 Kashmiris, left over 100,000 children orphaned, and subjected thousands of women to sexual violence. More than 170,000 Kashmiris have been arrested, and over 100,000 homes and properties have been destroyed.
Since 2019, occupied Kashmir has faced one of the world’s longest internet shutdowns. Despite five UN resolutions calling for a plebiscite, none have been implemented to date.
Human Rights Watch has accused India’s ruling BJP of being involved in atrocities against the people of Kashmir. Genocide Watch has already warned the international community about the ongoing campaign of ethnic cleansing in the region.
In February 2023, Amnesty International condemned India for demolishing Muslim-majority areas in the occupied valley, calling it a blatant violation of human rights.
Kashmir continues to suffer immense losses due to India’s brutality. Observing Black Day in Pakistan aims to remind the world of India’s oppressive actions and to renew global awareness of the unresolved Kashmir dispute.
