Pakistan observed Youm-i-Istehsal on Wednesday with nationwide rallies and seminars, marking the anniversary of India's 2019 revocation of the special autonomy of Indian-administered Kashmir. The day, also known as Exploitation Day, saw events in Islamabad, all four provinces, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), and Gilgit-Baltistan, along with diplomatic missions abroad reaffirming support for the Kashmiri people. Main Developments A central rally in Islamabad, led by Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs Amir Muqam, took place on Constitution Avenue. At 9am, sirens sounded and participants observed a minute of silence, as reported by state-run APP. Attendees carried Pakistani and AJK flags, banners, and placards condemning India's actions and supporting Kashmir's right to self-determination. In Muzaffarabad, the Pasban-e-Hurriyat Jammu Kashmir (PHJK) organized a march titled "Chalo Azadi Ke Liye" (March for Freedom), drawing women, children, elderly, and activists. Led by PHJK Chairman Uzair Ahmad Ghazali and others, the rally proceeded from Burhan Wani Chowk to Garhi Pan Chowk with black flags and slogans against India. Read also: Why Pakistan's Top Court Is Closing the Door on Old Contract Claims Separately, the Kashmir Liberation Cell staged a rally and submitted a memorandum to the UN Military Observers near Domel, urging the world body to fulfill its role in resolving the Kashmir dispute. Additional protests and gatherings were held in Taxila, Attock, Hazro, Jand, and Hassanabdal. Background Youm-i-Istehsal commemorates August 5, 2019, when India revoked Article 370, stripping the region of its special constitutional status. Pakistan has since observed the day annually, framing it as a reminder of the unilateral actions that India took. The disputed status of Jammu and Kashmir is recognized internationally, with UN Security Council resolutions promising the right to self-determination for its people. This year's events included diplomatic missions in Beijing, Kabul, Tehran, London, and Ankara, where seminars and documentary screenings reaffirmed Pakistan's political, diplomatic, and moral support. In Balochistan, Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti presented a joint resolution in the provincial assembly, unanimously condemning India's 2019 actions. Why It Matters The observance underscores the ongoing tension over Kashmir, a nuclear flashpoint between Pakistan and India. UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Aziz Haq stated that UNSC resolutions on Kashmir's self-determination "have not changed," and echoed concerns from the High Commission for Human Rights about respecting basic rights. PPP Vice President Senator Sherry Rehman condemned what she called "genocidal brutality" in Indian-administered Kashmir, calling the region "not real estate" but an internationally disputed territory. Rehman's remarks at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad highlighted that August 5, 2019, marked not just the revocation of Article 370 but "an attempted annexation by stealth" and a continuing assault on international law. These statements reflect Pakistan's persistent diplomatic push to internationalize the Kashmir issue, which remains unresolved and a source of regional instability. What's Next With the anniversary now past, attention shifts to whether India and Pakistan will engage in dialogue over Kashmir, which has been dormant since 2019. The UN's position, as reiterated, remains unchanged, but no concrete steps for resolution were announced. Future rallies and diplomatic efforts are likely to continue as Pakistan maintains its stance on the right to self-determination for Kashmiris.