COMMEMORATIVE CEREMONY FOR APS PESHAWAR TERRORIST ATTACK MARTYRS HELD IN ANKARA

Press Release

Ankara, December 15, 2023

COMMEMORATIVE CEREMONY FOR APS PESHAWAR TERRORIST ATTACK
MARTYRS HELD IN ANKARA

A commemorative ceremony was held today at Keçiören, Ankara to pay homage to the school children and staff martyred in the brutal terrorist attack on Army Public School (APS) Peshawar in 2014. Ambassador of Pakistan Dr. Yousaf Junaid, Keçiören Municipality Mayor Turgut Altinok, officials from Justice and Development Party (AKP), Keçiören Municipality and Pakistan Embassy attended the event.

While expressing heartfelt gratitude to Turkish brethren for solidarity and keeping the memory of precious lives lost to terrorism alive, the ambassador stated that these 144 trees reflect strong resolve of 300 million people of Pakistan and Turkiye to fight terrorism, as both countries have faced innumerable losses at the hands of terrorism.

Referring to the recent verdict of Indian Supreme Court on the status of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the ambassador stated that the judgement is manifestation of yet another form of terrorism. Jammu and Kashmir is an internationally recognized dispute. The final disposition of Jammu and Kashmir is to be made in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and as per aspirations of the Kashmiri people. There is no supremacy of Indian Constitution, over Jammu and Kashmir, he added.

Ambassador thanked President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for his principled stance on Kashmir and reiterated that Pakistan would continue to extend its full political, diplomatic and moral support to legitimate Kashmiri cause of self-determination.

Reaffirming strong solidarity of Turkiye with Pakistan, Mayor of Keçiören Turgut Altinok, condemned the APS terrorist attack and stated that the people of Turkiye would continue to stand by their Pakistani brothers in all aspects of life particularly in fight against terrorism. The Mayor reiterated Turkish support to the people of IIOJK for realization of their inalienable right to self-determination.

Later, the Ambassador along with Mayor Kecioren and other dignitaries laid wreath at the memorial of the APS martyrs. These trees were planted in the memory of martyred children by the Kecioren Muncipality and Youth Wing members of Justice and Development Party (AKP) in collaboration with Embassy of Pakistan in January 2015.

***(26/2023)***

in 2023

# APS

AWARDS CEREMONY FOR 6TH EDITION OF ‘JINNAH YOUNG WRITERS AWARD’ HELD IN ANKARA

January 5, 2024

MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT DR. ARIF ALVI ON THE OCCASION OF THE RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION DAY

Every year, on the 5th of January, we renew our support for the right to self-determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. On this day in 1949, the United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan (UNCIP) unanimously adopted a resolution affirming the right to self-determination of the Kashmiri people through a free and impartial plebiscite under the auspices of the United Nations.

The right to self-determination is a cardinal principle of international law, upheld in numerous core United Nations Treaties, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. For decades, it has been reaffirmed by the UN General Assembly in its annual resolution on self-determination. However, the last 76 years of India’s occupation of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) are a sad story of repression of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

India is trying to consolidate its occupation of IIOJK. The Indian Supreme Court’s judgement of 11 December 2023 on the status of this disputed territory is the latest step in this direction. India is trying to subjugate the Kashmiris through such oppressive tactics further. It continues to deny their inalienable right to self-determination and live with freedom and dignity.

Today’s commemoration is aimed at reminding the international community of its responsibility towards the oppressed Kashmiri people. The United Nations must honour the commitments that it made 75 years ago and support the Kashmiri people’s struggle for self-determination.

Pakistan remains determined to play its role in supporting the right to self-determination of Kashmiris through a free and impartial plebiscite as per the United Nations Security Council resolutions. Our strong and steadfast moral, political and diplomatic support for the Kashmiri people will continue till the realisation of this inalienable right.

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The Embassy of

Islamic Republic of Pakistan

Ankara, Türkiye