President, Prime Minister have reaffirmed their unwavering moral, diplomatic, political support to the Kashmiri people
Residents of Islamabad take part in a Kashmir Day demonstration. PHOTO: APP
Kashmir Solidarity Day is being observed on Thursday to express support for the people of the Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) in their struggle for the right to self-determination.
The day draws the attention of the international community to the Indian atrocities in the illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
To mark the occasion, solidarity walks, seminars and exhibitions are organized in Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
A minute’s silence was also observed across the country at 10:00 am to pay tribute to the martyrs of Kashmir’s freedom movement.
In his message, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have reaffirmed their unwavering moral, diplomatic and political support to Kashmiri brothers and sisters in their just cause to achieve the right to self-determination as enshrined in the relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
In their separate messages, they called on the international community to move beyond mere expressions of concern for the Kashmiri people and persuade India to stop the human rights violations in the IIOJK.
In his message, Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar urged the international community to take decisive action to address the worsening human rights situation in IIOJK.
He said the world should ensure accountability for India’s illegal and unilateral actions, persuade India to implement UN Security Council resolutions and grant the Kashmiri people their promised right to self-determination.
The DPM said that India’s continued defiance undermines the United Nations Charter, the relevant UNSC resolutions and the Fourth Geneva Convention.
Dar said Pakistan’s efforts will remain focused on ensuring a peaceful and lasting solution to the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.
Read: ‘Armed forces stand with Kashmir’
Meanwhile, Chief of Defense Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf and the Pakistan Armed Forces have meanwhile affirmed unwavering support to their resilient people in their struggle for resilient people.
According to the ISPR, the Pakistan Armed Forces reiterated that a just and peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir conflict in accordance with relevant UNSC resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people remains essential for lasting peace and stability in South Asia.
In her message, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif said love for Kashmir lies in the heart of every Pakistani and paid tribute to the Kashmiri martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the right to self-determination.
She said that Indian brutality in IIOJK has turned the valley into a prison and urged the UN and other global bodies to act against human rights violations. She reaffirmed Pakistan’s continued diplomatic, political and moral support to the Kashmiri people and expressed hope that they would soon see the dawn of freedom.
In his message, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said that Kashmir is the jugular vein of Pakistan and hailed the struggle of the Kashmiri people. He said that Sindh government and Pakistan Peoples Party stand in complete solidarity with Kashmiris.
He highlighted the role of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto in raising the Kashmir issue in the UN and exposing Indian atrocities. He said that Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has strengthened the Kashmir cause diplomatically at the global level.
He said that the right to self-determination is the fundamental right of Kashmiris, their sacrifices will not go in vain and Pakistan will continue its political, moral and diplomatic support until the issue is resolved in accordance with UN resolutions.
Pakistan People’s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said the hearts of the Pakistani people beat with their Kashmiri brothers and sisters and noted that Indian brutality and grave human rights violations have continued in the IIOJK for the past seven decades.
He said that Indian repression has failed to weaken the unbreakable resolve of the Kashmiri people and their legitimate struggle for freedom, adding that no power in the world can now stop them from achieving their destiny.
Bilawal said that the vision of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was brought forward by Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto who declared February 5 as Kashmir Solidarity Day to give new momentum to the Kashmir cause and to pay tribute to Kashmiri martyrs who sacrificed their lives for freedom.
He said the continued silence of the international community has revealed a clear gap between democratic values and actual practice, and urged it to fulfill its moral and legal obligations under international law and UN resolutions to protect the fundamental rights of the Kashmiri people.
Bilawal reaffirmed that Pakistan Peoples Party stands firm with the Kashmiri people and will continue to raise its voice in all forums until Kashmiris achieve freedom, dignity and justice.
Pakistan People’s Party Women’s Wing Central President Faryal Talpur has said that the Kashmir Solidarity Day reminds the world of the suffering, sacrifices and resilience of the people of IIOJK who continue to face serious human rights violations.
In a statement issued from Bilawal House, she said India’s record of repression in IIOJK over the past seven decades would remain a stain on humanity. She added that the courage of Kashmiri youth and the sufferings of Kashmiri families awakened the global conscience and that the day was not far when freedom would dawn in IIOJK.
Faryal Talpur hailed Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto for raising the Kashmir issue internationally and said their legacy supports Pakistan’s principled stand. She said the PPP under President Asif Ali Zardari and Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari would continue to raise the Kashmir issue in all forums and stand with the Kashmiri people until they secure their right to self-determination as per UN resolutions.
Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon paid tribute to the Kashmiris and the martyrs and said February 5 reflects Pakistan’s solidarity with them. He noted that Kashmiris have been fighting for decades for their rights and self-determination despite India’s harsh repression.
Memon said that Pakistan stands with Kashmiris and urged the international community to ensure their rights under UN resolutions. He added that India’s actions threaten regional peace and the Kashmiri struggle is a struggle for human rights and justice.
