On Jammu Martyrs’ Day, Pakistan’s top leadership today urged the international community and the United Nations to officially recognize the 1947 Jammu massacre as genocide and to hold India accountable for what they termed as ongoing violations of international law.

In separate messages, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif reiterated Pakistan’s steadfast support for the people of Jammu and Kashmir in their campaign for self-determination.

The President, in his statement, asserted that India”s attempts to modify the demographic composition of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir are in contravention of the Geneva Conventions.

He noted that Kashmiris globally observe the date to remember the martyrs and unarmed civilians who were slaughtered due to their faith and identity.

The Prime Minister’s message accused India of being guilty of a “protracted violation of fundamental human rights, right to self-determination and International Law.”

He claimed that in November 1947, Indian forces and extremists brutally massacred thousands of Kashmiris in a genocidal effort to change the region’s demographic and religious majority.

Shehbaz Sharif concluded by stating that the government and citizens of Pakistan pay heartfelt tribute to the valued sacrifices of their Kashmiri brothers and sisters.