Kashmir Solidarity Day observed amid calls for self-determination

ISLAMABAD: On the occasion of Kashmir Solidarity Day, Pakistani leaders reiterated their commitment to supporting the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination and urged the international community to intervene in the ongoing conflict between India and Pakistan over the disputed region.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated that achieving lasting peace in South Asia is contingent upon resolving the Kashmir issue. He called on the global community to encourage India to allow the Kashmiri people to make their own decisions regarding their future. “Sustainable peace cannot be attained by ignoring the legitimate aspirations of the local populace”.

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Shehbaz stated that the right to self-determination is a core principle of international law, which has been denied to the Kashmiris for 78 years.

He said that the Jammu and Kashmir dispute will continue to be a central element of Pakistan’s foreign policy, pledging ongoing moral, diplomatic and political support for the Kashmiri cause.

Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari described the human rights situation in Indian occupied  Jammu and Kashmir as dire. He condemned India’s actions that he said infringed upon the fundamental rights and freedoms of the Kashmiris. “No level of oppression can diminish the resolve of Kashmiris in their pursuit of justice”.

Military leaders, including Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, expressed their solidarity with the Kashmiris on this day. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) praised the resilience of the Kashmiris, who have endured significant hardships and human rights violations.

They called for urgent action from the international community and the United Nations to ensure compliance with Security Council resolutions regarding Kashmir.

The Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir, Chaudhry Anwarul Haq, characterised the day as significant. He talked about the enduring relationship between Pakistan and Jammu and Kashmir.

He stated the Pakistanis were committed in their support of Kashmiris independence and their quest for freedom. “We are optimistic that the Kashmiri people will soon experience the benefits of autonomy”.

Haq criticised India’s unilateral actions taken on August 5, 2019, which he stated have been rejected by the Kashmiris. He condemned the militarisation of the region, saying that India has transformed occupied Kashmir into a heavily fortified area.

“The international community must address the situation and take action against violations of human rights”.

The Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir reiterated Pakistan’s desire for peace in the region but cautioned that the actions of the Indian government pose a threat to regional stability.

He said he was committed to raising awareness of the Kashmiri struggle and called for the United Nations to respond to reports of aggression in the occupied Kashmir.

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As Kashmir Solidarity Day is commemorated, Pakistani leaders maintain their support for the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination.