Pakistan, Oct. 27 -- Every year, 27 October is observed in Pakistan as Kashmir Black Day, recalling the arrival of Indian troops in Srinagar in 1947 and the beginning of a conflict whose consequences have endured for generations. The day highlights the unresolved question of Jammu and Kashmir and the right of its people to have their aspirations taken seriously.

The events unfolded during the partition of British India, amid violence and uncertainty. Jammu and Kashmir was home to diverse communities, languages, faiths and cultures, and its political future became contested. India and Pakistan maintain different historical and legal positions on accession. The central concern is how the rights and wishes of the people most affected can be...