President Alvi, PM Kakar pledge unwavering support for Kashmir’s right to self-determination

Pakistan is observing Kashmir Solidarity Day today (February 5), reiterating its unwavering support with the people of Kashmir in their struggle for self-determination, as enshrined in United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.

The country will hold nationwide rallies and demonstrations to express renewed support for Kashmiri aspirations for self-determination from Indian occupation.

A one-minute silence was held at 9:30am in remembrance of the countless Kashmiri lives lost in the freedom struggle. 

President Dr Arif Alvi and Caretaker Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar, pledged their unwavering support for the people of Kashmir on Solidarity Day.

President Alvi stressed that the right to self-determination is a cardinal principle of international law but regrettably, the Kashmiri people have not been able to exercise this inalienable right.

"[...] For decades, it has been reaffirmed by the UN General Assembly in its annual resolution on self-determination. However, the last 76 years of India’s occupation of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) are a sad story of repression of the people of Jammu and Kashmir," the president wrote.

"India is trying to consolidate its occupation of IIOJK. The Indian Supreme Court’s judgement of 11 December 2023 on the status of this disputed territory is the latest step in this direction. India is trying to subjugate the Kashmiris through such oppressive tactics further. It continues to deny their inalienable right to self-determination and live with freedom and dignity," he added.

Dr Alvi reiterated Pakistan's full-fledged moral, diplomatic, and political backing for the Kashmiri people's struggle for self-determination.

"Pakistan remains determined to play its role in supporting the right to self-determination of Kashmiris through a free and impartial plebiscite as per the United Nations Security Council resolutions. Our strong and steadfast moral, political and diplomatic support for the Kashmiri people will continue till the realisation of this inalienable right."

PM Kakar said that the relevant UNSC resolutions provided that the final disposition of Jammu And Kashmir would be made in accordance with the will of the people of Jammu And Kashmir, expressed through the democratic method of a free and impartial plebiscite conducted under the auspices of the United Nations.

“India has since been engaged in efforts to further entrench these illegal measures through a series of steps aimed at altering the demographic structure and political landscape of IIOJK,” the prime minister said.

He described Kashmir Solidarity Day as an occasion to pay rich tribute to the sacrifices made by their Kashmiri brothers and sisters during the last seventy-six years.

Pakistan will continue to extend its unstinted moral, diplomatic and political support for this just cause, the Prime Minister's message, released by the Prime Minister's Office Media Wing, read.

Kashmir issue remains a flash point between Pakistan and India with Islamabad constantly urging the world to hold a plebiscite on Kashmir.

 The conflict prompted global outrage after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's unilateral decision to revoke Article 370 of the Indian Constitution that grants special status to the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).