ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will observe Kashmir Solidarity Day on February 5 (Monday) with a renewed commitment to support the Kashmiri people’s struggle for their right to self-determination, guaranteed in the relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
Yearly, on this day, the people and the government of Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir come together not only to express their solidarity with the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) but also to reaffirm their commitment to the liberation of occupied Kashmir from Indian subjugation.
People from diverse backgrounds, including doctors, lawyers, social activists, students, and others, will hold rallies and demonstrations, forming human chains across the country to uplift the spirits of Kashmiris who have been persistently fighting for their freedom.
All Pakistani missions abroad are set to organize seminars and photo exhibitions to draw the world’s attention to the severe subjugation and human rights violations committed by India in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
Both electronic and print national media will air special programs and print special supplements to highlight the significance of Kashmir Solidarity Day and the decades-long struggle of Kashmiri people against the illegal Indian occupation.
Banners illustrating the plight of innocent Kashmiris have been prominently displayed across the country, including airports, railway stations, and national highways.
The observance of this day also aims to bring international attention to the long-standing unresolved dispute of Jammu and Kashmir and reassure the people of occupied Kashmir that they are not alone, as the people of Pakistan and Azad Jammu & Kashmir stand wholeheartedly with them.
Kashmir Solidarity Day Highlights Indian State Terrorism in IIOJK
For over seven decades, Kashmiris have faced overwhelming odds, exhibiting courage against fear and sacrifice against tyranny. Despite the Indian campaign of brutalization, Kashmiris have persisted in the face of oppression, as India maintained its illegal occupation since October 27, 1947, against the aspirations of the people of Kashmir.
India’s use of state terrorism, including extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detentions, fake encounters, and staged cordon-and-search operations, continues to draw international concern. With over 900,000 Indian occupation forces, IIOJK has been turned into an open prison, but the desperation of the RSS-BJP dispensation to control the indigenous Kashmiri movement has encountered resistance.
The Jammu and Kashmir dispute, one of the oldest pending items on the agenda of the UN Security Council, remains unresolved due to India’s refusal to honor its commitments and its disregard for fundamental human rights and international law.
India’s illegal and unilateral actions of August 5, 2019, are blatant violations of international law, including the UN Charter, the 4th Geneva Convention, and relevant UN Security Council resolutions that stipulate the final disposition of the state of Jammu and Kashmir be made in accordance with the will of the people expressed through a free and impartial plebiscite conducted under the auspices of the United Nations.