ISLAMABAD: President Dr. Arif Alvi has reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering support for the right to self-determination of the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir in a message on Kashmiris’ Right to Self-determination Day.
He said that the historical significance of January 5, 1949, when the United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan (UNCIP) unanimously adopted a resolution affirming the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination through a free and impartial plebiscite under the auspices of the United Nations.
The President highlighted that the right to self-determination, a fundamental principle of international law enshrined in key United Nations Treaties, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, has consistently been upheld by the UN General Assembly in its annual resolution on self-determination.
However, the past 76 years have seen the unfortunate story of repression in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) under India’s occupation. The President pointed out India’s efforts to consolidate its control over IIOJK, citing the recent Indian Supreme Court judgment on December 11, 2023, regarding the disputed territory’s status.
He noted that this move is perceived as part of India’s broader strategy to subjugate the Kashmiri people, denying them their inalienable right to self-determination and the freedom to live with dignity.
The commemoration on this day serves as a reminder to the international community of its responsibility towards the oppressed Kashmiri people.
