Ashraf AboArafe
The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in Cairo solemnly observed Youm-e-Istehsal on 5 August 2025 by organizing a seminar titled:
“Kashmir: A Bleeding Wound in the Collective Conscience of the Free World.”
The event opened with the recitation of verses from the Holy Quran, followed by the national anthems of Pakistan and Egypt, setting a dignified tone for the proceedings. The seminar brought together prominent Egyptian figures from the media, civil society, and academia.
Messages from the President, Prime Minister, and Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister of Pakistan were read aloud, reaffirming Pakistan’s steadfast support for the Kashmiri people and condemning India’s illegal and unilateral actions in Jammu and Kashmir.
Speakers strongly denounced the ongoing human rights violations perpetrated by Indian occupation forces in the region. They expressed grave concern over the unlawful convictions and arbitrary detentions of Kashmiri political leaders and human rights activists. Participants also highlighted India’s anti-Kashmiri and anti-Muslim policies, especially its unilateral and illegal revocation of the region’s special status on 5 August 2019, and attempts to alter the demographic structure of the occupied territory.
They called on the international community to play a proactive role in facilitating a just and peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
The speakers commended Pakistan’s mature and measured response to India’s unprovoked aggression during Operation Bunyad-ul-Marsous and praised the timely intervention of the international community—especially the crucial role played by then-President Donald Trump—in defusing a potentially catastrophic conflict between the two nuclear neighbors.
In his keynote address, H.E. Ambassador Aamer Shouket emphasized the urgent need for resolving the Kashmir dispute to prevent a humanitarian and geopolitical disaster in South Asia. He drew a powerful parallel between the unresolved issues of Kashmir and Palestine, noting that peace remains elusive because occupying powers—India and Israel—continue to deny justice to oppressed peoples.
Ambassador Shouket welcomed the diverse participation of Egyptian friends and intellectuals, stating that their presence sends a strong message of solidarity to the oppressed people of Jammu & Kashmir and Palestine, and reaffirms moral, political, and diplomatic support for their just causes.
He also noted the successful efforts of both Pakistan and Egypt in defeating terrorism, paving the way for peace, stability, and development in their respective regions.
The event concluded with the screening of a moving documentary on the Kashmiri people’s struggle for their inalienable right to self-determination.
The seminar was attended by a large number of intellectuals, journalists, students, and members of the Pakistani community in Cairo, serving as a powerful reminder that the cause of Kashmir continues to resonate beyond borders.
