Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reaffirmed Pakistan's unwavering support for the people of Kashmir in a message marking Kashmir Black Day on 27 October, according to a release from the Prime Minister's Office.

Why 27 October is observed

Black Day marks the anniversary of 27 October 1947, when Indian troops landed in Srinagar. Pakistan observes the day each year to express solidarity with Kashmiris and to draw attention to the dispute over the region.

Pakistan's stated position

In his message, the prime minister reaffirmed Pakistan's moral, diplomatic and political support for the Kashmiri people. He called for a resolution of the Kashmir dispute in line with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security Council and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.

The message also underlined Pakistan's long-standing position that the Kashmiri people should be able to decide their own future, a point Islamabad raises each year on the anniversary.

A message aimed beyond Pakistan

Black Day messages from Pakistan's leadership are addressed as much to the international community as to audiences at home, urging world powers to press for a settlement of one of South Asia's oldest unresolved disputes.

The observance comes amid continued tensions between Pakistan and India over Kashmir, with both countries claiming the region in full while administering separate parts of it.