Message from the Consul General of Pakistan in Guangzhou Dr. Diyar Khan on the Occasion of Kashmir Solidarity Day
The state of Jammu and Kashmir is a disputed territory between Pakistan and India. In October 1947, India landed its military troops in the then princely state of Jammu and Kashmir and occupied two-third of the State against the wishes of the Kashmiri people, majority of whom wanted accession to Pakistan, in accordance with the partition plan for British India. When the people of Jammu and Kashmir revolted against India, the Indian Government took the matter to the United Nations and the United Nations Security Council passed a Resolution in 1948, calling for a plebiscite to ascertain the wishes of Kashmiri people for accession to Pakistan or India. India has continued to ignore and violate this UNSC Resolution to this day.
Every year, our Pakistani Nation commemorates Solidarity Day with Kashmir on 5 February. The purpose of this day is to express solidarity with Kashmiris, pay homage to their martyrs, to reiterate support for the right to self-determination and to call on the international community to fulfill its obligation to hold a plebiscite under the auspices of the UN.
Kashmir is one of the oldest disputes pending on the Agenda of the United Nations Security Council. It is the unfinished Agenda of partition of British India. Jammu and Kashmir is the core dispute between India and Pakistan and the dream for peace in South Asia will remain elusive until Resolution of this dispute in accordance with the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Since then, more than 1.5 billion people of South Asia deserve to see the dawn of peace and prosperity which has been denied to them due to non-implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolutions.
Kashmiris have been demanding the right to self-determination, in a peaceful way, ever since 1947. The courageous and determined people of Kashmir have rendered unparalleled sacrifices in their indigenous and historic struggle for freedom. Atrocities by the Indian occupation forces have increased especially in the last decade. Around 900,000 occupation forces have converted the region of Jammu and Kashmir into the largest militarized zone in the world. The inhuman military siege of the Kashmir by Indian occupation forces has resulted egregious violations of human rights of the innocent people especially women, children and the elderly with unprecedented impunity. These violations have been documented in several reports of United Nations Human Rights Council and other International Organizations. In August 2019, India unilaterally and illegally changed the semi-autonomous status of Jammu and Kashmir. The besieged innocent Kashmiris are brazenly denied their basic rights of communication and fundamental freedoms despite the rampant COVID-19 Pandemic.
The observance of the Kashmir Solidarity Day today commemorates the strong and unflinching resolve of the Government and people of Pakistan to reassure our Kashmiri brothers and sisters that they will remain steadfast on their principled position on Jammu and Kashmir. The entire Pakistani Nation stands with the Kashmiri brethren in their valiant struggle to achieve the legitimate right to self-determination. It is our firm belief that the Kashmiris will succeed in their struggle. The Government and people of Pakistan deeply appreciate the principled and supportive stance of Chinese Government on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir.