Kashmir solidarity day observed across Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Kashmir Solidarity Day is being observed across the country to pay tribute to the freedom struggle of Kashmiris.

Today, ceremonies will be held across the country to express solidarity with Kashmiris, and a human chain will be formed on the roads connecting Azad Kashmir and Pakistan.

A special session of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly will also be held today, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif will visit Muzaffarabad.

Special messages from the President and Prime Minister

On Kashmir Solidarity Day, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif reiterated their commitment to continue supporting Kashmiris.

President Asif Zardari said in his message that this day is a day of renewing the commitment to unwavering support for Kashmiris, Pakistanis around the world are expressing solidarity with their Kashmiri brothers. It is imperative to give Kashmiris the right to self-determination as per UN resolutions.

The Prime Minister, while terming the Indian move to revoke the special status of occupied Kashmir as illegal, made it clear that the Pakistani nation stands with the Kashmiris in their struggle for their right to self-determination.

In his message, he said that we salute the unparalleled courage, perseverance and sacrifices of the Kashmiri brothers, Pakistan will continue to support the right of self-determination of the Kashmiri brothers and sisters.

The Kashmir dispute is one of the long-standing unresolved disputes on the agenda of the United Nations. Due to India’s stubbornness, the Kashmiri people are being deprived of their fundamental rights. The Prime Minister said that occupied Kashmir has become a hotbed of oppression and serious human rights violations.

The Prime Minister said that arbitrary political detentions have become India’s usual tactics. On August 5, 2019, India began a series of illegal and unilateral administrative measures. The aim of these measures was to strengthen its forcible control over occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif said that he strongly advocated the right of the Kashmiri people to self-determination at every international forum, including the United Nations, and Pakistan will continue to fully support the Kashmiri people in their struggle for freedom.

Special message from the Armed Forces

On Kashmir Solidarity Day, the Pakistani armed forces have expressed unwavering solidarity with the Kashmiri people. According to the ISPR, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and other service chiefs fully supported the freedom struggle of the Kashmiri people.

The armed forces strongly condemned the serious human rights violations in Indian illegally occupied Kashmir, and called extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and arbitrary arrests unacceptable.

According to the ISPR, serious concern was expressed over India’s attempts to change the demographic and political identity of occupied Kashmir and called the resolution of the Kashmir issue inevitable in accordance with UN resolutions.

The armed forces said that the international community should take practical steps to alleviate the suffering of the Kashmiri people. The armed forces are committed to protecting the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. They will continue to fully support the legitimate right of Kashmiri brothers and sisters to freedom and dignity.

Public Holiday

Today is a public holiday across the country, sirens will be sounded in Muzaffarabad between 9 and 10 am and a minute’s silence will be observed.