ISLAMABAD (DNA) – As Pakistan observes the 73rd Independence Day as ‘Kashmir Solidarity Day’ on Wednesday to express solidarity with the people of occupied-Kashmir and outline their sufferings under oppression by Indian troops, President Arif Alvi said that Pakistan has always stood with Kashmiris and would continue to do so.

As the guest of honour, the president addressed a flag hoisting ceremony at the convention centre in Islamabad, and stated: “Today the world is watching how the people of Pakistan are standing by the side of their Kashmiri brothers.”

“India’s acts has prompted Pakistan to take Kashmir dispute to the United Nations Security Council […] India has no right to change the status of Kashmir,” he said, adding that the state of India has violated all UN resolutions related to the Kashmir dispute.

“The people of Kashmir reserve the right to decide about their future and India must immediately halt oppression and state terrorism in IoK.”

President Arif Alvi demanded the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), human rights organisations to put efforts for resolution of Kashmir dispute.

“We share the pain of the people of Kashmir […] India must not forget that Kashmir dispute is between three parties,” the president stated, adding Indian moves in the occupied Kashmir have negated all provisions of the Shimla Agreement.

“Kashmir has been turned into a ‘military zone’ as India has deployed nine lakh soldiers […] Pakistan will not retreat if war is waged against the country,” he warned India about any possible misadventures in the region.

“We will not leave them alone at any step,” the president said adding: “Kashmiris are our [people]. We think of their pain as our pain.”

“We have remained with them, we are with them today and will continue to do so.”

Other political leaders including National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaisar, Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan were also present on the occasion.

Mashaal Malik, wife of detained Kashmiri leader Mohammad Yasin Malik, also addressed the ceremony during which she shared a poem she wrote about the freedom struggle of people under Indian occupation in Kashmir.

According to Radio Pakistan, flag hoisting ceremonies will also be held in Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta.

The day dawned with a 31-gun salute in the capital and 21-gun salutes in the provincial capitals, as well as a major event in Islamabad in which top government functionaries and armed forces’ officials took part.

Meanwhile, change of guards ceremonies were held at the mausoleum of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah in Karachi and Allama Iqbal in Lahore.

According to Radio Pakistan, a “smartly turned out contingent of the cadets of the Pakistan Naval Academy assumed the guards’ duties,” adding that Commodore Irfan Taj of the Pakistan Navy was the chief guest of the ceremony.

Prime Minister Imran Khan is scheduled to visit Muzaffarabad today where he will address the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly.