Pakistan reaffirmed its unwavering support for the Kashmiri people's right to self-determination on Kashmir Solidarity Day, observed annually on 5 February. Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif released a message emphasizing Pakistan's commitment to the Kashmiri cause. Sharif stated that the observance serves to renew Pakistan's steadfast support for the Kashmiri people's "just and legitimate struggle for realization of their right to self-determination."
He highlighted the right to self-determination as a fundamental principle of international law, noting that the UN General Assembly annually adopts a resolution affirming this right. "Regrettably, the Kashmiri people have not been able to exercise this inalienable right, notwithstanding the passage of last seventy-eight years," Sharif said.
The prime minister described "Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK)" as "one of the most-militarized zones in the world," where Kashmiris live in an environment of "fear and intimidation". He accused India of "detaining political activists and human rights defenders, confiscating properties, and banning political parties" that represent Kashmiri aspirations. "The intent of these oppressive measures is to crush dissent," Sharif said.
He further accused India of attempting to consolidate its control over IIOJK by implementing demographic and political changes since its "illegal and unilateral actions of 5 August 2019″. He stated that India's objective is to render Kashmiris"a disempowered community in their own land."
Citing recent developments in the Middle East, Sharif argued against allowing long-standing disputes to persist, stating that "a lasting peace cannot be achieved by suppressing the genuine aspirations of the local people". He called on the international community to urge India to allow the Kashmiri people to "freely determine their own future" in the interest of lasting peace in South Asia.
Sharif reiterated that the Jammu and Kashmir dispute remains a cornerstone of Pakistan's foreign policy. "Pakistan will continue to offer its unwavering moral, diplomatic and political support to the Kashmiri people till the realization of their right to self-determination, as enshrined in the relevant UN Security Council resolutions," he affirmed.
He concluded by commending the "resolve and courage of the valiant Kashmiri people, who continue to render innumerable sacrifices in their struggle to achieve their fundamental rights and freedoms."
