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Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called upon the international community, including the United Nations, to uphold their commitments and take decisive action to help the people of Jammu and Kashmir realize their right to self-determination.
In a message marking Kashmir’s Right to Self-Determination Day, observed on January 5, the Prime Minister stressed the significance of this day, which has been commemorated annually since 1949. On this historic date, the United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan (UNCIP) adopted a resolution ensuring a free and impartial plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir, reaffirming the Kashmiri people’s right to determine their future.
Historic Relevance: Right to Self-Determination Day for Kashmir
Prime Minister Sharif highlighted the enduring importance of the United Nations’ role in securing Kashmir’s self-determination. He remarked, “The right to self-determination is a core principle of the UN Charter, as well as international law. Every year, the UN General Assembly adopts a resolution affirming the legal right of people to decide their own destiny. However, it is regrettable that for over seven decades, the Kashmiri people have been denied the opportunity to exercise this fundamental right.”
Also See: Kashmiris Observe Self-Determination Day with Renewed Resolve
The United Nations and Its Pledge to Kashmir
The Prime Minister underscored the significance of the 1949 UNCIP resolution, which promised a plebiscite to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, enabling them to determine their political future. He also stressed the continued international support for Kashmir’s self-determination, as reflected in repeated UN resolutions
Post-2019 Struggles: India’s Actions in Kashmir
Prime Minister Sharif expressed his deep concern regarding India’s actions in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly since the revocation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019. “India has continued to take multiple steps to consolidate its occupation of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), undermining the internationally recognized disputed nature of the territory,” he said. He further criticized India’s attempts to change the region’s demographic and political structure, effectively marginalizing the Kashmiri majority in their own homeland.
He condemned the widespread and systematic violations of human rights in the region, including the suppression of the Kashmiri people’s struggle for freedom and self-determination.
Pakistan’s Commitment to Kashmir’s Cause
Reiterating Pakistan’s steadfast stance, the Prime Minister stated, “Pakistan will continue to extend its full moral, political, and diplomatic support to the Kashmiri people in their just struggle for self-determination.” He underscored that this commitment aligns with the principles of the United Nations Charter and relevant UN resolutions.
The Global Community’s Role in Ending Oppression in Kashmir
The Prime Minister called on the international community to take immediate action to halt ongoing human rights abuses in Jammu and Kashmir. He urged the release of political prisoners, the restoration of basic rights, and an end to repressive measures targeting the Kashmiri people. Stressing the need for a just and durable solution to the Kashmir issue, he reaffirmed that it must be rooted in international law.
Pakistan remains resolute in working with the global community to ensure the people of Jammu and Kashmir can finally exercise the right to self-determination promised to them over seven decades ago.
