Despite August 5 Actions, India has Failed in its Nefarious Designs: AJK Information Minister
Islamabad, August 5, 2025 : Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Information Minister Pir Muhammad Muzaffar Saeed Shah has declared August 5 as a Black Day, commemorating India’s revocation of Articles 370 and 35A in 2019. This action ended the special status of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) against the wishes of its inhabitants. Shah condemned it as a calculated move to alter the region’s demography, heritage, traditions, and particularly the freedom movement. However, he stated that India has not succeeded in its objectives. The increased military presence in IIOJK reflects the Kashmiris’ resistance to India’s policies.
In a statement issued on Kashmir Exploitation Day, Minister Shah termed the actions taken in IIOJK since August 5, 2019, as an extraordinary act of oppression. He stated that India’s attempts to downplay the Kashmir dispute cannot invalidate its standing at the United Nations. The illegal and immoral actions taken on August 5, 2019, cannot change the nature of the Kashmir dispute, the UN Security Council resolutions, nor can they weaken the spirit of the Kashmiri people.
Minister Shah lauded the steadfastness of the Kashmiri people, stating that killings, imprisonment, restrictions, and enforced disappearances cannot shake their resolve. He said the Kashmir dispute can only be resolved by adhering to UN resolutions, which grant Kashmiris the right to self-determination. India’s unilateral actions to undermine the disputed status of Jammu and Kashmir violate international legal principles.
The Minister appealed to the UN, the international community, and human rights groups to uphold the Kashmiris’ right to self-determination and stop human rights violations in IIOJK. Paying tribute to Kashmiri martyrs, he commended the bravery and resilience of the Kashmiri people. The sacrifices of those who laid down their lives in the Kashmir freedom struggle will not be forgotten. The people of Pakistan, Azad Kashmir, and Kashmiri diaspora stand in solidarity with their Kashmiri brethren. He expressed hope that Kashmir’s freedom from Indian occupation is near
