Kashmir Solidarity Day

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Every year on February 5, Pakistan observes Kashmir Solidarity Day to reaffirm its unwavering support for the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). The people of Kashmir were promised a plebiscite by the UN in 1948, allowing them to decide their own future. However, that promise remains unfulfilled. Instead, the region has witnessed relentless human rights violations, mass incarcerations, enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings and media blackouts.

The situation worsened in August 2019 when India unilaterally revoked Article 370 of its constitution, stripping Jammu and Kashmir of its special status and paving the way for demographic changes that threaten to alter its Muslim-majority identity. Since then, the valley has been turned into a heavily militarised zone, with reports of restrictions on movement and systematic repression. India has been framing its actions in Kashmir as an internal matter, leveraging its growing economic and strategic clout to minimise international scrutiny. Western democracies have largely refrained from pressuring New Delhi, driven by geopolitical and economic considerations. The lack of a unified global response has emboldened India's position while limiting Pakistan's ability to gain tangible international support beyond rhetorical condemnations.

Pakistan's challenge now is to recalibrate its Kashmir diplomacy by strengthening multilateral engagement, leveraging its position within the OIC and aligning with emerging global power blocs sympathetic to its stance. While military confrontation is not a viable solution, sustained diplomatic and strategic advocacy remains vitals. Until the Kashmiri people are granted their right to self-determination, the region will continue to be a regional flashpoint, making it imperative for global actors to reassess their stance. Pakistan on the other hand will continue to stand in unwavering solidarity with them, ensuring that their struggle is never forgotten.