ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have said Pakistan will continue to provide political, diplomatic and moral support to Kashmiris’ right to self-determination.
They made these comments in their messages on January 5, celebrated as the Right to Self-Determination Day of Kashmiris.
The day commemorates the UN Security Council resolution passed in 1949, which affirms the right of Kashmiris to decide their future through a UN-sponsored plebiscite.
In separate messages, the two leaders said that this year Kashmiris across the world celebrated the 76th anniversary of the UN resolution ensuring free and fair plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir.
Prime Minister, President, Political Leaders Urge World Powers to Help Implement UN Resolutions
The president said India had denied the right to self-determination to the people of Kashmir for more than seven decades and subjected them to systemic oppression, violence and brutalities.
Prime Minister Shehbaz said the time has come for the international community, including the UN, to fulfill its promises.
and take meaningful steps to enforce the resolution.
PPP and JUI-F chiefs reaffirm their determination
In his message, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari highlighted the suffering of the people of controlled Kashmir and said it was not just a regional issue but a test of the conscience of humanity.
He expressed deep disappointment at the silence of the world community in the face of the relentless atrocities faced by the people of Kashmir.
Bhutto-Zardari said the world must fulfill its promises to the people of Kashmir and realize their inalienable rights.
He reiterated that the right to self-determination was a fundamental principle enshrined in international law and promised to the people of Kashmir through UN resolutions.
The PPP chairman paid tribute to the unwavering determination of Kashmiris who have steadfastly endured decades of oppression while remaining steadfast in their demand for dignity, justice and freedom.
“Today, we stand shoulder to shoulder with our resilient Kashmiri brothers and sisters who have faced relentless Indian oppression,” he said, asserting that the PPP has always been “at the forefront of upholding the Kashmir cause” and will continue to raise its voice on each platform.
He pledged to provide unwavering political, moral and diplomatic support to the oppressed people of occupied Kashmir until they achieve their freedom.
“Together we will ensure that the dream of a peaceful, free Kashmir liberated from Indian occupation becomes a reality.”
JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman also issued a strong statement praising the determination of Kashmiris for their right to self-determination.
The people of Kashmir will prevail in their struggle to achieve their right to self-determination as recognized by international resolutions, Rehman said.
The JUI-F chief lamented India’s intransigence as the main obstacle to the implementation of UN resolutions.
He also expressed disappointment at the UN’s failure to fulfill its responsibility to hold a plebiscite in the region.
The JUI-F chief condemned India for its brutal repression and ongoing genocide of Kashmiri Muslims, and urged the global community to take note of the gross human rights violations.
Reiterating his support for the struggle of Kashmiris, Rehman said, “We stand shoulder to shoulder with our Kashmiri brothers in their quest for freedom.”
The JUI chief concluded by expressing solidarity with the people of Kashmir and urged world powers to implement the UN resolutions.
National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq also reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering support for Kashmiris.
In his message, the speaker praised the people of Kashmir for their steadfast struggle, but regretted that despite more than 70 years having passed, UN resolutions remain unimplemented.
The speaker strongly condemned the actions of the Indian government on August 5, 2019, when it unilaterally abrogated the special status of the retained Kashmir.
Published in Amanecer, January 6, 2025.
