Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has declared he intends to continue his government's opposition to India's abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir exactly an year ago.
Pakistan is observing Wednesday as Youm-e-Istehsal (Exploitation Day) to mark 365 days since the abrogation of Article 370. Both Pakistan's federal and provincial governments are holding a series of events nationwide to highlight what they call India's "illegal siege" of Jammu and Kashmir.
I will address the AJK Assembly today to show solidarity with Kashmiris on Youm-e-Istehsal. Kashmiris in IIOJK have been subjected to a brutal fascist military siege by India since its illegal actions of 5th Aug last year followed by efforts to change the demography of IIOJK.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) August 5, 2020
Taking to Twitter on Wednesday morning, Imran announced he would address the assembly of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (referred to as Azad Jammu and Kashmir in Pakistan) on Wednesday.
Imran tweeted, "I will address the AJK Assembly today to show solidarity with Kashmiris on Youm-e-Istehsal. Kashmiris in IIOJK have been subjected to a brutal fascist military siege by India since its illegal actions of 5th Aug last year followed by efforts to change the demography of IIOJK."
In follow-up tweets arguably aimed at a domestic audience, Imran vowed to continue raising Kashmir at international fora.
Imran tweeted, "I will continue to be an ambassador for all Kashmiris whose voices India has tried to silence through its brutal illegal occupation of IIOJK. After many years, my govt raised the Kashmir issue effectively before the UN & exposed the Hindutva Supremacist fascism of the Modi Govt. We have also depicted the aspirations of the Kashmiri people & our commitment to UNSC resolutions in the political map of Pakistan released yesterday."
Imran's government on Tuesday released a map of Pakistan that included Jammu and Kashmir, Sir Creek and even Junagadh. India described the exercise as "absurd".
Ahead of events to mark abrogation of Article 370, Pakistan has released a stamp to mark the occasion. It has also renamed the Kashmir Highway as the Srinagar Highway.
"In Islamabad, Pakistan renamed its major Kashmir Highway as Srinagar Highway in order to show solidarity with the people of occupied Kashmir ahead of Youm-e-Istehsal. The direction boards on Dhokari Chowk, Faizabad, Zero Point, Golra Chowk and Express Highway have also been changed to replace Kashmir Highway with Srinagar Highway name. The Srinagar highway will be officially inaugurated today (August 5)," The Nation reported.
