On the occasion of Right to Self-Determination Day, marking the 76th anniversary of the United Nations resolution calling for a free plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s steadfast support for the Kashmiri people’s struggle for their inalienable right to self-determination, as outlined in UN Security Council resolutions.
The historic UN resolution, adopted on January 5, 1949, by the United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan (UNCIP), promised a fair and free plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir to allow the Kashmiri people to decide their own fate.
In their respective statements, both leaders urged the international community to take decisive action to uphold international law and support the legitimate aspirations of Kashmiris.
President Zardari condemned India’s long-standing denial of Kashmiris’ right to self-determination and its ongoing systemic abuses in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). He specifically criticized India’s actions since August 5, 2019, which aimed at altering the region’s demographic and political landscape. Zardari reiterated Pakistan’s full commitment to providing political, diplomatic, and moral support to the Kashmiri people in their struggle for freedom.
He emphasized that while India has systematically denied Kashmiris their rights for over seven decades, the spirit of the Kashmiri people remains unbroken. Despite ongoing oppression, their pursuit of freedom continues.
“The United Nations General Assembly annually adopts a resolution on the ‘Universal Realization of the Right of People to Self-Determination,’ which draws attention to the plight of those living under occupation,” Zardari stated, urging the international community, especially the United Nations, to ensure the Kashmiri people can exercise their inalienable right to self-determination.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif echoed these sentiments, highlighting the urgency of international intervention to halt India’s human rights violations and facilitate a free and fair plebiscite. He reminded the global community that the right to self-determination is a core principle of the UN Charter and international law, one that has been denied to the Kashmiri people for more than 70 years.
The Prime Minister condemned India’s unlawful actions since August 2019, which aim to alter the demographic and political structure of IIOJK and disempower the Kashmiri population. He also criticized India for suppressing the Kashmiri people’s legitimate demand for self-determination and freedom.
As Kashmiris around the world observe Right to Self-Determination Day, the All Parties Hurriyat Conference has called for rallies, seminars, and conferences worldwide. These events are aimed at reminding the United Nations of its obligations to implement its resolutions, resolve the Kashmir dispute, and end the suffering of Kashmiris under Indian occupation.
In IIOJK, posters have appeared in Srinagar and surrounding areas urging the UN to fulfill its resolution from January 5, 1949. The posters emphasize that the global community must uphold its responsibility to support the Kashmiri people. Some of the posters feature Pakistan’s Army Chief General Asim Munir, expressing Kashmiris’ trust in the statements on Kashmir made by Pakistan’s military leadership.
In Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), a special session of the AJK Legislative Assembly will be held to draw international attention to the gross human rights violations in IIOJK. In Muzaffarabad, Pasban-e-Hurriyat and other Hurriyat organizations have organized rallies at Shaheed Burhan Muzaffar Wani Chowk, with participants marching towards the UN Observer Mission Office in Muzaffarabad.
These events highlight the continued determination of Kashmiris to achieve their internationally recognized right to self-determination and the importance of international support in securing their freedom.
