Every year, on the fifth of February, the people of Pakistan reaffirm their solidarity with the Kashmiri people’s struggle for the realization of their right to self-determination. On this Kashmir Solidarity Day, we renew our unflinching support to this just cause.
The Jammu and Kashmir dispute is one of the oldest unresolved disputes on the agenda of the United Nations Security Council. Over the last seventy-six years, India has continued with its occupation of the large parts of Jammu and Kashmir. Thousands of Kashmiris have sacrificed their lives and suffered countless atrocities at the hands of the Indian forces. The situation took a turn for the worse, following India’s illegal and unilateral actions of 5 August 2019, which are aimed at transforming Kashmiris into a disempowered community.
Today, India is bent on consolidating its occupation of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK). The Indian Supreme Court’s judgement of 11 December 2023 on the status of this internationally-recognized disputed territory is the latest step in this direction.
The human rights situation in IIOJK remains a source of grave concern to Pakistan and the rest of the world. India is denying the Kashmiris their fundamental rights and freedoms. There is an environment of fear in IIOJK. The true representatives of the Kashmiri people remain incarcerated. Political activists and human rights defenders are being victimized. Media has been silenced through coercion. However, no amount of oppression can break the will of the Kashmiris and undermine their legitimate struggle.
Today’s commemoration is, inter alia, aimed at reminding the international community of its responsibility towards the oppressed Kashmiri people. The United Nations must honor the commitments it made 76 years ago and support the Kashmiri people’s struggle for self-determination.
On its part, Pakistan will always stand shoulder to shoulder with the Kashmiri brothers and sisters. We will continue to lend our full moral, diplomatic and political support to their just struggle for realization of their inalienable right to self-determination.
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