On Kashmir Black Day, my thoughts are especially with Kashmiri women and children, who continue to bear the human cost of this unresolved dispute.
27 October 1947 was the day when Indian forces landed in Srinagar, marking the beginning of a prolonged period of suffering for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Kashmiri women have endured profound loss and hardship. Many have been left to raise their children alone after the disappearance or death of their husbands and other family members. Mothers who have lost their sons, daughters growing up without their fathers and women who continue to seek answers and justice deserve to have their voices heard. Despite these hardships, Kashmiri women continue to care for their families, support their communities and work to secure a better future for their children.
The impact on children is equally painful. Too many have grown up amid uncertainty, fear and disruption to their education and everyday lives. Every child has the right to attend school, receive proper healthcare, play safely and grow up with the confidence that tomorrow holds opportunities rather than fear. The emotional and psychological effects of prolonged conflict on children must not be overlooked. Their experiences deserve serious attention from the international community, human rights organisations and the UN.
As First Lady, I stand in solidarity with every Kashmiri mother, daughter and child whose life has been affected by this conflict. The suffering of women and children must remain central to international efforts to address the situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). Their rights, safety and future cannot be separated from the search for a just and lasting resolution.
Nearly eight decades after the events of 27 October 1947, the right of the Kashmiri people to self-determination, recognised in relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, remains unfulfilled. A lasting peace in South Asia requires a resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the aspirations of the Kashmiri people in the light of relevant UNSC resolutions. Pakistan will continue to extend its moral, diplomatic and political support to them in their pursuit of their legitimate rights.
On this day, I particularly remember the mothers who continue to wait for their loved ones, the women who carry the responsibilities of entire families and the children whose futures remain uncertain. Their sacrifices must not be forgotten.
I hope for the day when Kashmiri mothers can raise their children in peace, when girls can pursue their education without fear and when every Kashmiri child can look towards the future with hope and confidence. The women and children of Pakistan stand in solidarity with their Kashmiri counterparts, with the shared wish that they may live with freedom, security and the opportunity to shape their own future.
