October 27 is observed as the 'Black Day' in length and breadth of Pakistan and on both sides of line of control. This day, Indian occupational forces landed in Srinagar in 1947. Since then, there is no end to the sufferings of Kashmiris.
The entire world knows that the Kashmiris are engaged in a peaceful struggle for their right to self-determination, which the international community promised in the form of UN resolutions. India had assured the world in the United Nations that it would give people of Kashmir an opportunity to decide their future. But India deviated from this commitment.
This backtracking by India, coupled with gross human rights violations in the Held Valley made Kashmiris realise that New Delhi wanted to keep them under subjugation. This beautiful valley, once dubbed paradise on earth, presents a picture of a garrison-state where the Indian security forces have let loose the forces of oppression and atrocities. The Kashmiris have faced the state terrorism with courage, high ideals and deep conviction. The unarmed people of Kashmir have chronicled a glorious chapter in the annals of human history by rendering immense sacrifices for their just cause.
Nevertheless, the resolution of Kashmir dispute lies in tripartite negotiations between India, Pakistan and the accredited leadership of the people of Jammu and Kashmir from both sides of the LoC. Almost all Muslim countries supported the struggle and the right of self-determination of Kashmiris in accordance with the relevant UN resolutions.
While noting the struggle of Pakistan Peoples Party for the cause of Kashmir, it was this very issue that led Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto to form his own political party. Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto invoked a sense of struggle among the Kashmiris to fight for their right of self determination and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto's efforts secured for the Kashmiris' All Parties Hurriyat Conference a special status in the OIC. The democratic government had taken several measures to highlight the Kashmir cause that include drawing attention of the international community to the grave human rights violations in the held Kashmir.
The PPP has always championed the cause of Kashmir and its peaceful resolution in accordance with the wishes of Kashmiris. Though the Kashmir cause enjoys popular support across party divide and every government raised its voice for the rights of the Kashmiris, however, Pakistan People's Party has a distinguished position in this regard. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, the founding-chairman of PPP, categorically stated that we would fight for a thousand years for the right to self-determination of our Kashmiri brethren. Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto in his address to the UN General Assembly in October 1963 said that "Let the chain break, free the Kashmiris and have the friendship of Pakistan". Addressing a joint session of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Assembly and the Kashmir Council 7th February last year, President Zardari reiterated that Pakistan is ready to wage a thousand-year war with India over the Kashmir dispute. When Zulfiqar had spoken of waging a thousand-year war, he never said he would not do it through talks or negotiations. This was a war of ideologies and would last for generations; democratic governments had played a key role in moving forward on the Kashmir dispute.
The democratically elected government has committed that the PPP leadership along with its allies will continue to strive for a peaceful solution of the Kashmir issue through dialogue and peaceful means. Prime Minister Gilani in his meetings with Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh in Sherm el-Sheikh, Colombo and Bhutan, impressed upon the Indian leader that the two countries should resume dialogue to settle all issues including Kashmir and utilise their resources to tackle the common challenges of poverty, hunger and inflation etc.
The regional peace was inextricably linked to the settlement of the decades-old dispute over Kashmir. Pakistan cannot de-link regional peace from peace in Kashmir. Kashmir Black Day is also an occasion to pay tribute to the countless sacrifices of the valiant people of Kashmir who have remained resolute and steadfast in the face of oppression spanning more than six decades.