PROVINCE REPORT
BERLIN: The Embassy of Pakistan in Berlin organized a special Seminar today to observe Jammu & Kashmir Black Day, marking the dark day of October 27, 1947, when Indian forces brazenly landed in Srinagar. The event reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering political, diplomatic, and moral support with the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK) in their legitimate struggle for their inalienable right to self-determination.
The solemn event drew a diverse and large gathering, including members of the Pakistani and Kashmiri diaspora, German civil society representatives, academics, media personnel and students.
The seminar commenced with the recitation of the Holy Quran, followed by the national anthems of Pakistan, Germany, and Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK). Special messages from the President, the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister/ Foreign Minister of Pakistan were read out on this occasion, highlighting Pakistan’s principled stance on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.
Addressing the audience, Ambassador Salman Sharif underscored the historical context of the Kashmir dispute and condemned the grave and systematic human rights violations perpetrated in IIOJK. He emphasized that durable peace and stability in South Asia is not possible without a fair and just resolution of the Jammu & Kashmir dispute, in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
Mr. Volker Tschapke, Honorary President of the Prussian Society, and Mr. Hans Dube attended the Seminar and highlighted the crucial nature of the dispute. Kashmiri leaders and activists, Mr. Altaf Hussain Wani, Ms. Shamim Shawl, and Mr. Ali Raza Syed, addressed the seminar through their video messages. They shared harrowing accounts of the ground realities in the occupied territory, shedding light on arbitrary detentions, demographic engineering, and the severe violations of fundamental freedoms. Participants expressed deep solidarity with the Kashmiri population and pledged to raise awareness within their respective communities across Germany to foster international understanding and support for the legitimate struggle. The speakers also lauded the Government and people of Pakistan for their consistent, unwavering support for the Kashmiri cause on all international fora.
As part of the Seminar, an informative documentary detailing the ongoing plight of the Kashmiri people was also screened. Following the Seminar, participants observed a photographic exhibition hosted at the Embassy that not only highlighted the gross human rights violations perpetrated by the Indian security forces in the IIOJK but also exhibited the resilience and desire for freedom of the Kashmiri people under military occupation. The powerful visual displays captured the human rights crisis in IIOJK, further amplifying the voices of the oppressed.
The event concluded with a collective prayer (Dua) for the peace, progress and freedom of the people of Jammu & Kashmir.
