ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is observing Kashmir Solidarity Day today (February 5) to reaffirm its unwavering support for the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination, as recognized by United Nations resolutions.
The annual public holiday is marked by rallies, solidarity walks, and human chains across the country and in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) to highlight the ongoing struggle of the people in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) against oppression.
Nationwide Commemorations
- In Islamabad, a rally will take place at Constitution Avenue, where sirens will sound at 10 AM, followed by a minute of silence in honor of Kashmiri martyrs.
- In Muzaffarabad, the AJK Legislative Assembly will hold a special session.
- Human chains will be formed at Mangla, Kohala, Bararkot, Azad Pattan, and Holar, symbolizing the unity between Pakistan and AJK.
- Posters and billboards highlighting the plight of Kashmiris have been placed at key locations, including airports and railway stations.
Leadership Reaffirms Support
President Asif Ali Zardari called on the international community to fulfill its long-standing promises to the Kashmiri people.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to Kashmir, urging the world to pressure India into allowing Kashmiris to determine their own future. He warned that ignoring such disputes, as seen in the Middle East crisis, could have grave consequences.
He condemned India’s August 5, 2019, unilateral actions, stating they were aimed at changing Kashmir’s demography and suppressing dissent.
“The Jammu and Kashmir dispute remains a key pillar of Pakistan’s foreign policy. We will continue to provide moral, diplomatic, and political support to Kashmiris until they achieve their right to self-determination,” the PM asserted.
Pakistan Armed Forces Stand with Kashmir
The Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) General Sahir Shamshad, along with the services chiefs and the Pakistan Armed Forces, reaffirmed their unwavering support for the people of IIOJK in their struggle for freedom.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) condemned India’s extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and arbitrary detentions in Kashmir, calling for immediate action from the United Nations and global human rights organizations.
“We stand shoulder to shoulder with our Kashmiri brethren in their rightful pursuit of freedom and dignity,” the military’s statement concluded.
A Continued Struggle for Justice
Kashmir Solidarity Day serves as a reminder to the world of the decades-long suffering of Kashmiris and Pakistan’s unwavering support for their struggle. Pakistan calls upon the international community to act decisively and uphold the fundamental rights of Kashmiris.
