Special Correspondent: Pakistan`s Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has reaffirmed his country`s support for the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), paying tribute to Kashmiri martyrs and reiterating Pakistan`s call for the right to self-determination.

In a message issued on the occasion of Youm-e-Shuhada-e-Kashmir (Kashmir Martyrs` Day), the prime minister said the day symbolizes the resilience, courage, and unwavering determination of the people of IIOJK, whose sacrifices have inspired generations to continue what he described as their "just struggle" for justice and the realization of their inalienable right to self-determination.

Sharif said that despite what he described as heavy militarization, continued repression, and persistent human rights violations in IIOJK, the resolve of the Kashmiri people remains unshaken.

He further alleged that arbitrary detentions, suppression of political dissent, restrictions on the media, and attempts to alter the demographic and political landscape of the territory have been documented and condemned by international human rights organizations and United Nations human rights mechanisms.

On the occasion, the Pakistani premier paid tribute to the courage, resilience, and sacrifices of all the martyrs of IIOJK, reaffirming Pakistan`s solidarity with the people of Kashmir.

The statement reflects Pakistan`s longstanding position on the Kashmir issue, which remains a subject of dispute between Pakistan and India. India maintains that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of the country and rejects Pakistan`s characterization of the situation.