Kashmir day is being observed today (Monday) with traditional zeal and zest all across Pakistan including Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan to express solidarity with the people of Indian occupied Kashmir who have been engaged in a historic struggle against India’s illegal and forcible occupation. Since 1990, Pakistani nation has been observing the Day with a view to show its unflinching support to Kashmir’s just cause for right to self-determination. Seminars, symposiums and public rallies are being held all across the country to seek international community’s attention towards the long-outstanding issue that has been stumbling block in the way of peace, prosperity and stability in the region. Pakistan being a principled party to the dispute has been championing Kashmir cause at international level. Pakistan has always supported Kashmir cause and seeks a peaceful resolution of Kashmir in accordance with the UN resolutions. While on the other hand India’s traditional intransigence has been a major hurdle in the peaceful settlement of dispute that has now assumed dangerous proportions. Instead of paving way for the peaceful settlement of dispute India has always tried to stifle the voice of Kashmiris by the use of brute force that led to widespread death and destruction in the disputed territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
In his message to the nation on Kashmir Solidarity Day, President Mamnoon Hussain called upon the international community to play its due role in seeking an end to the brutalities, violation of human rights and the reign of terror unleashed by Indian forces. Reiterating Pakistan’s full support to Kashmiris’ struggle for right to self-determination he said the dream of peace and prosperity in the region will remain elusive unless the dispute of Jammu and Kashmir is resolved peacefully in line with the wishes and aspirations of Kashmiri people. He urged the world community to persuade the government of India to fulfill the promises it made with the people of Jammu and Kashmir and international community 70 years ago.
Voicing his serious concern over the worsening situation in the disputed territory the president said, “It is a matter of grave concern that Indian occupation forces are resorting to state terrorism, war crimes and intensified human rights violations to suppress the just struggle of the Kashmiri people.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi reaffirmed Pakistan’s continued moral, diplomatic and political support to the oppressed people of Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IoK) in their legitimate struggle in the face of increasing Indian brutalities and gross human rights violations. Abbasi called upon the international community to discharge its legal and moral responsibilities to put an end to the gross human rights violations of innocent Kashmiris in IoK and ensure expedited resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in line with the UNSC resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
Since 1947, the people of Kashmir have rendered unprecedented sacrifices in their struggle to achieve their inalienable right of self-determination guaranteed to them by no less an authority than the United Nations. Despite the passage of 70 long years the UN has miserably failed to seek a solution of the dispute. People of Jammu and Kashmir had been deprived of the fundamental right to self-determination in stark contradiction to the promise made to them by the international community through the United Nations Security Council Resolutions.
Given the volatile situation in the region it is high time that the UN should play its much needed role to settle this long running dispute that happens to be bone of contention in the region. President Mamnoon has rightly said that dream of lasting peace in South Asian region would remain elusive unless the dispute of Kashmir is resolved amicably in line with the wishes and aspirations of Kashmiris who have rendered tremendous sacrifices during the decades’ long struggle against Indian imperialism.
