Pakistan is commemorating Kashmir Solidarity Day on Monday, underscoring the nation’s steadfast support for the enduring struggle of the Kashmiri people to achieve their inherent right to self-determination, as outlined in United Nations (UN) resolutions. The citizens and government of Pakistan, along with Azad Jammu and Kashmir, observe Solidarity Day annually, not only to reaffirm their solidarity with the people of occupied Kashmir but also to reassert their unwavering commitment to liberating Kashmir from Indian subjugation.
Interim Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar emphasized in a statement that this occasion serves as a tribute to the sacrifices made by Kashmiris over the past seventy-six years. He highlighted that UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions dictate that the final disposition of held Kashmir should be determined through a democratic and impartial plebiscite conducted under UN auspices.
“India is trying to change the region’s dynamics”
President Dr Arif Alvi, in his message, acknowledged the 76-year struggle of the people in the occupied valley for their right to self-determination. He pointed out that the UN General Assembly consistently adopts resolutions expressing unequivocal support for the realization of this right for people under foreign occupation. However, he lamented that the Kashmiri people have been unable to exercise this inalienable right.
President Alvi further described Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir as one of the most militarized zones globally, where Kashmiris live in an atmosphere of fear and intimidation. He criticized India’s post-August 5, 2019 actions, stating that they aimed at altering the region’s demographics and politics, disempowering the Kashmiri community in their own land.
Caretaker Information Minister Murtaza Solangi emphasized that the IIOJK issue remains one of the longest-standing items on the UNSC’s agenda. Pakistan’s primary objective, he stressed, is to resolve the matter in accordance with the aspirations of the Kashmiri people and relevant UN resolutions.
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PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, advocating for the party’s success in the upcoming general elections on February 8, asserted that it is crucial for halting Indian atrocities in held Kashmir. He pledged to advance the Kashmir cause if elected as prime minister, condemning India’s actions on August 5, 2019, as a blatant violation of international law and UNSC mandates. Bilawal expressed unwavering support for the Kashmiri people’s struggle for peace, freedom, security, and dignity.