ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday said that durable peace in South Asia will remain impossible unless the Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan is resolved. He urged the international community to persuade India to halt alleged human rights violations in the region.
Pakistan observes February 5 each year as Kashmir Solidarity Day. The day is dedicated to supporting the right of self-determination for the people of Kashmir. Various groups across Pakistan hold rallies and seminars to mark the occasion. February 5 is a public holiday.
The Himalayan territory has been contested by India and Pakistan since 1947. Both countries claim it in full but control only parts of it. The two nations have fought two of their three wars over the region.
On August 5, 2019, India revoked the special constitutional status of Jammu and Kashmir. The move stripped the region of its limited autonomy. Pakistan responded by downgrading diplomatic ties with New Delhi.
Zardari said the military escalation initiated by India in May 2025 underscored the need to resolve the Kashmir dispute. Tensions remain high after the worst fighting in decades in May 2025. The conflict followed India’s accusation that Pakistan supported an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed several tourists. Pakistan denied the allegations and called for a credible investigation.
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The president called on the international community to ensure “unfettered access” for rights observers in Kashmir. Pakistan accuses India of jailing Kashmiri leaders, restricting the media, and oppressing local residents. India denies the claims and accuses Pakistan of supporting militancy in the region.
In his message on Kashmir Day, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said India’s actions on August 5, 2019, violated the UN Charter and relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
Sharif said Pakistan will continue to provide moral, diplomatic, and political support to the Kashmiri people. He reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to their right to self-determination through a free and impartial plebiscite under UN supervision.
