MT Desk: President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry, and Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq, in their Independence Day messages, have hailed 14 August as a historic milestone and reiterated their unwavering support for the Kashmir cause.

According to Kashmir Media Service, Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry said that on this day, the world witnessed the emergence of Pakistan on the global map as a separate homeland for the Muslims of the subcontinent, a result of the tireless struggle of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. He lauded Jinnah as a statesman who not only changed the course of history but reshaped the geography of South Asia. The President said the ideology of Pakistan is deeply embedded in the hearts and minds of its people, adding that Pakistan has always stood steadfastly with the Kashmir cause and that the people of Jammu and Kashmir consider Pakistan as their ultimate destination.

He maintained that Pakistan is incomplete without Kashmir, recalling that the people of Jammu and Kashmir had decided to align their future with Pakistan months before its creation in 1947. Condemning India’s actions following the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A in 2019, he accused New Delhi of attempting to alter the status and demography of occupied Jammu and Kashmir — steps that the Kashmiri people have unequivocally rejected.

Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq said that this year’s Independence Day is unique as the Armed Forces of Pakistan, during the Battle of Truth, showcased outstanding professionalism, bravery, and resilience, inflicting a humiliating defeat on India. He said the creation of Pakistan was the realisation of Allama Iqbal’s vision and the manifestation of the collective aspirations of the Muslims of the Indian subcontinent.

The Prime Minister emphasised that Independence Day is a time to pay tribute to the forefathers who sacrificed their lives and wealth for the nation’s freedom. He recalled that under the Two-Nation Theory presented by Allama Iqbal, Quaid-e-Azam united the Muslims under one banner and, despite fierce opposition from Hindus and the British, achieved Pakistan through constitutional struggle within seven years of the Lahore Resolution.

Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq said that while India seeks to suppress the people of occupied Jammu and Kashmir through force, this day renews the determination of Kashmiri brothers and sisters that their sacrifices will not be in vain. He reaffirmed that the government, people, and Armed Forces of Pakistan will continue their political, moral, and diplomatic support until occupied Jammu and Kashmir is liberated and the entire state accedes to Pakistan.