Message from President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Dr. Arif Alvi, on the occasion of Kashmir Solidarity Day (5 February 2024)

The people of the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) have been struggling to realise their right to self-determination for the last seventy-six years. On this Kashmir Solidarity Day, the Government and people of Pakistan renew their unflinching support for their just and legitimate struggle.

The right to self-determination is a cardinal principle of international law. The UN General Assembly annually adopts a resolution expressing unequivocal support for the realisation of the right to self-determination for people under foreign occupation. Regrettably, the Kashmiri people have not been able to exercise this inalienable right.

Today, IIOJK is one of the most militarized zones in the world. Kashmiris are living in an environment of fear and intimidation. The Indian occupation forces are engaged in indiscriminate use of force against civilians. Political activists and human rights defenders face arbitrary detention and confiscation of properties. The political parties, representing the genuine aspirations of the Kashmiri people, are being banned. These oppressive measures are aimed at crushing dissent in IIOJK.

India is also taking steps to consolidate its occupation of IIOJK. Following its illegal and unilateral actions of 5 August 2019, India’s efforts have been aimed at engineering demographic and political changes so that the Kashmiris are transformed into a disempowered community in their own land. The Indian Supreme Court’s judgement of 11 December 2023 is yet another manifestation of India’s desire to undermine the right to self-determination of the Kashmiri people.

India must end its gross human rights violations in IIOJK; reverse its unilateral and illegal actions of 5 August 2019; repeal draconian laws; allow UN-mandated investigations into cases of human rights violations, and implement the relevant UN Security Council resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir.

I wish to reiterate that seeking a just resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute will remain a key pillar of our foreign policy. Pakistan will continue to lend unstinted moral, diplomatic and political support to the Kashmiri people till the realisation of their right to self-determination, as enshrined in the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

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