A special event to commemorate Kashmir Black Day was organized at the Chancery in Baku on October 27.

Ednews reports that officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, think tanks and journalists representing print and electronic media attended the event.

Highlighting the significance of the event, Charge d' Affaires Sara Ijaz stated that 27 October 2023 marks 75 years of India's illegal occupation of the disputed state of Jammu and Kashmir. Hapless people of the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) continue to suffer under the brutal occupation.

It was noted that the sufferings of the Kashmiri people had increased manifold after India abolished the special status of IIOJK through the revocation of Articles 370 and 35-A of the Indian Constitution on August 5, 2019. Since then, a fresh wave of state-sponsored terror and oppression has been unleashed marked by curfews; cordon and search operations; media curbs and blackouts; arbitrary arrests and detention of true Kashmiri leadership; extra-judicial killings; settlement of non-Kashmiris in IIOJK with a view to change its demography and distinct cultural identity, among others. These actions clearly violate international law, relevant UNSC resolutions, and the 4th Geneva Convention.

The Cd'A further emphasized that the Jammu and Kashmir is an internationally recognized dispute and unilateral actions by the Indian government can neither alter the disputed status of the territory nor hold legitimate right to self-determination of the Kashmiri people.
Participants of the event reiterated Azerbaijan's consistent support to the cause of Jammu and Kashmir in accordance with UN resolutions.

At the event of the event Ms Sara Ijaz, Acting Ambassador, also congratulated Azerbaijan on its recent success in Karabakh.

Aydın Safikhanli, a member of the Independent Standing Human Rights Commission of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and head of the Ombudsman Office, also spoke at the event. He offered condolences to the people of Pakistan and Kashmir and expressed his deep sadness.

"On the 76th anniversary of the events, I would like to offer my condolences to the state of Pakistan. It is appropriate to note the similarities between the processes taking place in the territory and the events taking place in Karabakh so that I can understand your sufferings. I also declare here that we, as the Republic of Azerbaijan, are our brother country Pakistan until the end, we support the full resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir conflict in all spheres, and we hope for a quick resolution of the conflict."

Following the event, guests were invited to see the photo exhibition depicting the plight of Kashmiris under Indian brutality in the IIOJK.

On October 27, 1947, India invaded the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir and forcibly occupied it against the people's will. Each year, October 27 is observed as Kashmir Black Day to mark the forced occupation of the valley by the Indian Occupation Forces.