ISLAMABAD: On the occasion of Kashmir Solidarity Day, observed annually on February 5, Pakistan’s top leadership reiterated the nation’s steadfast moral, diplomatic, and political support for the people of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir.
In a solemn message, President Asif Ali Zardari stated that the day serves to renew an unwavering commitment to the Kashmiri cause. He emphasized that, according to United Nations resolutions, it is imperative to grant Kashmiris their right to self-determination. President Zardari paid tribute to the Kashmiri people’s resilience against what he termed “Indian occupation” for over eight decades and highlighted that the observance was initiated under the leadership of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. He condemned India’s unilateral actions of August 5, 2019, which revoked the region’s special status, as illegal and called on the international community to pressure India to halt human rights violations.
Echoing the President’s sentiments, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif affirmed that the Kashmir dispute remains an unresolved agenda item at the UN. He stated that Indian “intransigence” has deprived generations of Kashmiris of their fundamental rights, leaving the territory a “hotbed of oppression.” The Prime Minister labeled the revocation of Article 370 illegal and pledged that Pakistan would continue its full support until the “bright dawn of freedom” is realized for Kashmiri people.
The leadership’s messages underscore Pakistan’s consistent official position, framing the issue as an ongoing struggle for freedom and human rights. The day is marked nationwide with ceremonies and rallies, expressing solidarity with Kashmiri brothers and sisters and advocating for a peaceful resolution in line with UN Security Council resolutions.
