KYIV, Ukraine: The Embassy of Pakistan in Kyiv commemorated 6th September 2021 as Defence and Martyrs Day as well as Kashmir Solidarity Day.
The ceremony began with the recitation of the Holy Qur’an.
The messages of President Dr. Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan were read out on this occasion.
In his remarks, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Ukraine Dr. Noel I. Khokhar paid rich tribute to martyrs and their families for their sacrifices.
The ambassador added that we owe our independence and freedom to our armed forces and said that this year Defence Day is marked with a new theme of “Watan Ki Matti Gawah Rehna” which means “the soil of the country be a witness-to our endeavors of nation-building and protection”.
It was stressed that on this day we should salute and pay respects to our valiant forces who laid down their lives for the protection of their motherland.
Ambassador Dr. Noel I. Khokhar highlighted the tremendous contribution of the Pakistan Armed Forces not only for safeguarding geographical frontiers of the country but contributing to nation-building and providing their full support during natural calamities in the Country.
It was added that Pakistan Army is also playing a pivotal role for providing security to all projects of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
The ambassador further said that this year’s Defence Day is being celebrated in solidarity with our Kashmiri brethren of IIOJK who are being subjected to the worst kind of oppression and state terrorism. More than two years have passed when on 5th August 2019 the Indian government unilaterally and against all relevant UN Security Council resolutions stripped Kashmir of its special autonomous status by overturning article 370. Since then the Kashmiri people have been put under one of the worst and inhuman lockdowns the world has ever witnessed. They have been deprived of all their basic human rights. These Indian actions have drawn widespread condemnation of the international community. Since then the issue has been raised thrice in UN Security Council and international organizations and parliaments have called on India to respect and protect the human rights of the people of IIOJK.
It was further added the government of Pakistan condemns the illegal and unilateral attempt by India to alter the disputed status of IIOJK as enshrined in the UNSC Resolutions.
Pakistan will continue to provide moral, diplomatic, and political support to the Kashmiri people till the fate of IIOJK is decided according to the UNSC resolutions and wishes of its people.
