Kashmiris unite globally to demand self-determination rights today

WEB DESK: Kashmiris worldwide are marking the “Right of People of Jammu and Kashmir to Self-Determination Day”, commemorating the 76th anniversary of the United Nations Commission on Indian and Pakistan’s resolution advocating for their self-determination.

The observance brings to light the enduring struggle of the Kashmiris, who have faced prolonged conflict and political turmoil.

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Urgent calls for international action

Pakistani President, Asif Ali Zardari, issued a statement stating that India has denied the people of the Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir their right to self-determination for over seventy years.

He criticised actions taken by the Indian government since August 5, 2019 which he declared as intending to alter the region’s demographics and political landscape.

Pakistan’s ongoing support for Kashmir

Zardari urged the international community to uphold the inalienable rights of the Kashmiris and to intervene against what we described as human rights violations and atrocities committed by India.

He said Pakistan was committed to providing steadfast political, diplomatic and moral support to the Kashmiris in their quest for self-determination.

Zardari condemned Indian action, stating that the country has denied the people of occupied Kashmir their right to self-determination for over seven decades.

He noted that India has implemented several measures seeking to disempower Kashmiris in their own homeland.

Despite these challenges, the president expressed confidence in the resilience of the Kashmiris, and that their struggle for freedom cannot be suppressed.  

Pakistani PM’s statements

In a message regarding the Right of People of Jammu and Kashmir to Self-Determination Day, Pakistani Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, stated that January 5 is recognised annually to commemorate the historic resolution passed by the United Nations Commission on India and Pakistan in 1949.

The resolution guarantees a free and fair plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir, affirming the Kashmiris’ inalienable right to self-determination.

Shehbaz stated that the right to self-determination was a fundamental tenet of the United Nations Charter and international law.

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He noted that the United Nations General Assembly annually passes a resolution advocating for the legal right of people to determine their own destiny.

Complex geopolitical landscape

The observance of the Right of People of Jammu and Kashmir to Self-Determination Day serves as a reminder of the complex geopolitical dynamics surrounding Kashmir, a territory that both nuclear-armed Pakistan and India claim.