Islamabad, February 5, 2025 – Pakistan on Monday marked Kashmir Solidarity Day, renewing its call for the United Nations and the global community to intervene in the decades-long conflict and ensure Kashmiris’ right to self-determination. The day was observed across the country and in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) with rallies, ceremonies, and official statements emphasizing Pakistan’s unwavering political, diplomatic, and moral support for Kashmiris in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
Pakistan’s leadership urged global action, with President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif calling on the international community to pressure India into allowing Kashmiris to determine their political future.
“The world must honor its commitment to Kashmiris made 78 years ago under UN resolutions,” President Zardari stated in his message, emphasizing that the issue remains a major challenge to regional stability.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif echoed the sentiment, stressing that self-determination is a core principle of international law. “Every year, the UN General Assembly reaffirms this right, yet Kashmiris remain deprived of it,” he said. He further highlighted that IIOJK is one of the world’s most militarized zones, where systematic human rights violations continue under Indian occupation.
During his visit to Muzaffarabad, the capital of AJK, Prime Minister Sharif will address the AJK Legislative Assembly, reaffirming Pakistan’s steadfast commitment to Kashmir’s freedom struggle.
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Pakistan’s military leadership also reaffirmed support for Kashmiris. Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir, along with the Prime Minister, laid a wreath at the Monument to Martyrs in Muzaffarabad. The Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and service chiefs also released a statement condemning India’s ongoing human rights abuses in Kashmir, calling them a violation of international law.
ISPR, the military’s media wing, stated that India’s actions in IIOJK reflect blatant disregard for humanitarian principles.
AJK President Barrister Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry and Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwar ul Haq emphasized that Pakistan and AJK stand united in Kashmir’s struggle for freedom. “The UN must intervene and force India to implement UN Security Council resolutions guaranteeing a plebiscite in Kashmir,” Barrister Chaudhry said.
AJK Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq reiterated that Kashmir Day is a symbol of historic solidarity of Pakistan with its Kashmiri brethren, stressing that India’s expansionist policies threaten regional peace.
In Muzaffarabad, a torch rally was held at Burhan Wani Chowk, a symbolic site for pro-Kashmir demonstrations. Protesters marched holding flaming torches and Kashmir flags, chanting slogans against Indian occupation.
The Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) Assembly also passed a resolution condemning India’s illegal occupation and reaffirming its unwavering support for Kashmiris’ struggle.
Kashmir Solidarity Day comes amid rising global scrutiny of human rights violations in IIOJK. The Middle East conflict, analysts say, underscores how unresolved territorial disputes can lead to prolonged instability, further highlighting the urgency for a resolution in Kashmir.
Pakistan continues to call for international intervention, with Islamabad’s leadership urging the UN, OIC, and global powers to play a role in ending what they describe as India’s occupation and repression.
With inputs from Radio Pakistan, APP, and Dawn.