ISLAMABAD: Pakistanis are observing a day of protest today, on Saturday, over India’s revocation of the special autonomous status of the part of Kashmir it controls, which divided the region into two federal territories four years ago. 

India’s sudden move divided the region into Ladakh and Jammu-Kashmir federal territories, both ruled directly by New Delhi without a legislature of their own and run by bureaucrats. 

The move’s immediate implications were that India’s only Muslim-majority region lost its flag and constitution. Since then, New Delhi has enacted a slew of administrative changes, including a residency law that made it possible for Indian nationals to become permanent residents of the region. 

Pakistanis are observing a day of protest, or ‘Youm-e-Istehsal,’ to express solidarity with the Kashmiri people over the annexation of the disputed territory. In this regard, a “solidarity walk” was also held in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad early Saturday, along with rallies elsewhere in the country. 

“Pakistan will continue to lend its unstinted moral, political and diplomatic support to the rightful and just cause of the freedom struggle of the Kashmiri people,” Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said in a statement, shared by his office. 

“It is Pakistan’s abiding commitment and promise to our Kashmiri brothers and sisters that we will echo their voices at every forum until the world takes action and urges India to end its human rights violations and forcible occupation.” 

Kashmir has been divided between Pakistan and India since their independence from the British rule in 1947. Both countries claim the Himalayan territory in its entirety and have fought two of their four wars over it. 

In a separate statement, President Arif Alvi said Pakistan would continue to be the voice of the Kashmiri people and extend all possible support for the “fullest realization of their legitimate rights.” 

“We have no doubt that durable peace and stability in South Asia can only be achieved through a peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people.”