On Kashmir Solidarity Day, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering support for the Kashmiri people.
Both leaders called for the international community to uphold Kashmiris’ right to self-determination and end human rights abuses in the occupied territory.
President Zardari highlights ongoing human rights violations
President Zardari said India’s illegal occupation of Kashmir continues to challenge global conscience. He condemned human rights violations, including the arrests of Kashmiri leaders, restrictions on media, demolition of homes, and suppression of digital freedoms.
“The profiling of mosques and religious institutions in occupied Kashmir reflects deep religious discrimination,” Zardari said, adding that Kashmiris have an inalienable right to religious freedom. He emphasized that lasting peace in South Asia is impossible without a resolution to the Kashmir dispute.
The President urged the international community to compel India to halt human rights violations, reaffirming that Pakistan will continue to stand by the Kashmiri people.
PM Sharif condemns India’s policies
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif highlighted that the Kashmir issue remains one of the longest unresolved disputes on the United Nations agenda. He said Indian intransigence has deprived Kashmiris of fundamental rights for nearly eight decades.
Sharif condemned the August 5, 2019 measures, calling them an attempt to consolidate forcible rule in occupied Kashmir, in violation of Security Council resolutions and the Geneva Convention. He accused India of ideological oppression, monitoring administrative committees of mosques and shrines, and attempting to silence and disempower the Kashmiri people.
Pakistan’s continued support for Kashmiris
The Prime Minister saluted the courage and sacrifices of the Kashmiri people. He reiterated that Pakistan will continue to provide full moral, diplomatic, and political support, emphasizing the hope for a future free from occupation.
“God willing, these days of darkness will soon turn into the bright dawn of freedom,” Sharif said, expressing optimism that Kashmiris will eventually live in peace and liberty.
Maryam Nawaz pays tribute to Kashmiri martyrs
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz described the love for Kashmir as “a burning flame in the heart of every Pakistani.” She said lasting peace in South Asia will remain a dream until the Kashmir issue is resolved.
In her message, Maryam Nawaz paid tribute to the Kashmiri martyrs who have fought to keep the flame of self-determination alive. She said India’s actions have transformed the paradise-like valley into a prison, calling for the United Nations and other international bodies to play their legal role against ongoing human rights violations.
Maryam Nawaz reaffirmed that Pakistan will continue to provide diplomatic, political, and moral support to the Kashmiri people and raise their cause in international forums. “Insha Allah, the Kashmiri people will see the sun of freedom soon,” she added.
Aleem Khan highlights Pakistan’s Solidarity
Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan emphasized that giving Kashmiris their right to self-determination is the foremost responsibility of the international community.
He stated that Pakistan’s army, national institutions, and citizens stand firmly with the Kashmiri people. “The fate of the Kashmir region will be decided by the Kashmiri brothers and sisters with their own hands,” he said.
Khan criticized India’s policies, asserting that Modi’s administration has sown insecurity, hatred, and chaos in the region. He recalled Pakistan and Bangladesh’s boycott of matches against India to highlight their opposition to the occupation.
He concluded by urging Pakistanis to pray for Kashmiris and raise their voices in solidarity on February 5, calling the day a reflection of national commitment to the Kashmiri cause.
