Kashmir Day: The President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari

The people of Pakistan across the globe observe Kashmir Solidarity Day to reaffirm our unwavering moral, diplomatic and political support for our Kashmiri brothers and sisters in their just cause to achieve the right to self-determination as enshrined in the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, it was Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto who began the observance of this day 36 years ago, following the historic uprising of the Kashmiri people in 1989, a struggle that continues to this day.

For nearly eight decades, the valiant Kashmiri people have stood tall against the illegal Indian occupation and have rendered countless sacrifices. On this day, we pay solemn tribute to their indomitable spirit and resilience.

The situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) remains a matter of grave concern for global conscience. Since the illegal and unilateral actions of 5th August 2019, India has intensified its efforts to consolidate its occupation through administrative and legislative manipulation. By muzzling the media, incarcerating the Kashmiri leadership and attempting to dilute the Muslim majority through demographic changes, India seeks to disempower the Kashmiri people in their own land.

Indian occupation forces also continue to commit countless human rights violations in IIOJK. The findings of recent international reports highlight the alarming rise in arbitrary detentions and collective punishment. The use of punitive house demolitions and the ongoing suppression of digital freedoms, including the blocking of thousands of social media accounts, are clear attempts to hide the reality in IIOJK.

The recent profiling of mosques and mosque management committees in IIOJK constitutes deliberate intimidation by the Indian authorities, aimed to obstruct the free exercise of religion by the Muslim majority population. Such actions form part of a broader pattern of religious persecution under the extremist Hindutva framework. The Kashmiri people have the inalienable right to practice their religion without fear, coercion or discrimination.

The dangerous military escalation initiated by India in May 2025 serves as a stark reminder that true and durable peace in South Asia remains impossible unless the core dispute of Jammu and Kashmir is resolved.

I urge the international community to move beyond mere expressions of concern for the Kashmiri people and persuade India to stop the human rights violations in IIOJK, allow unfettered access to international human rights observers and grant the Kashmiri people their promised right to self-determination.

On this day, I reiterate that we will continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Kashmiri people until they realize their right to decide their own future through a free and impartial plebiscite.

“Kashmir Pakistan Ke Sheh Rag Hai” - Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026