Pakistan Stands in Solidarity with Kashmir

Kashmir Solidarity Day has been celebrated on 5^th February each year to protest against Indian control over Jummu Kashmir, to denounce Indian inhabitant forces for horrific kind of state terrorism and to express solidarity with subjugated Kashmiris. The day is observed as a public day. Pakistan first pronounced Kashmir Solidarity Day on 5^th February back in 1989 on the appeal of then Jama’at-i-Islami Amir Qazi Hussain Ahmad. It was decided to celebrate this day because Kashmiri independence efforts entered into a phase of armed uprising. Kashmiri people started what is known as Intifada after passing forty-two years of illegal occupation by India. After passing more than two decades subsequent to Intifada, Kashmiris are still strongly firm on their determination and the Indian intense violence could not pushed them back from their ambition. Pakistanis since last two decades are celebrating this day to contribute to the Kashmiri people’s struggle and to boost their moral support not because of any self-interest in Kashmir but because Kashmir’s self-determination ambition is strongly supported by Pakistanis.

After passing six decades, the Kashmir dispute is still the major bone of contention between India and Pakistan. However India never took a serious stance to resolve Kashmir dispute or other disputes like the Sir Creek, the Siachen and water disputes. The Kashmir issue is on the agenda of the United Nations for the past six decades.

 The essence of the problem is that India refuses to fulfill its own commitments, to the international community to the solution it proposed in the shape of UNSC Resolutions on the matter. It is required that international community and governing world bodies should intervene to force India to stop killing innocent Kashmiris. The Human right organizations like Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Amnesty International can widely play their role by highlighting Indian brutality in all across the world. Kashmiris should have the right to decide their fate according to UN resolutions.

Pakistan is not to put Kashmir issue on back and it is implicit that long term relations with India cannot take place without resolving Kashmir dispute. PM Pakistan also issued a message on Kashmir Day that “On behalf of the government, I reaffirm Pakistan’s commitment to a just and peaceful resolution to the Kashmir dispute. The Government of Pakistan would continue to extend its unwavering political, moral and diplomatic support to the just cause of the Kashmiri people to safeguard their right of self-determination through a free and impartial plebiscite in line with the UN Charter and UNSC resolutions and for the protection of their fundamental rights”. Whereas rallies, banners, demonstrations, programs on electronic media and celebration of 5^th February on social media, all speaks of Pakistanis support to struggle of Kashmir till India gives them the right of self-determination. Pakistan does stand and will stand in solidarity with Kashmir!

Asha Khan