Islamabad: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif emphasized the importance of Kashmiris’ right to self-determination for achieving lasting peace in South Asia. He urged the international community to press India to allow the Kashmiri people to decide their own future, asserting that peace could not be attained by suppressing their genuine aspirations.
According to a statement by Kashmir Media Service, the prime minister delivered this message on Kashmir Solidarity Day, underscoring that prolonged disputes should not be ignored, as recent developments in the Middle East have shown.
Pakistan annually observes Kashmir Solidarity Day to reaffirm its unwavering support for the Kashmiri people’s struggle for self-determination. The prime minister highlighted that the right to self-determination is a fundamental international law principle, regularly endorsed by a UN General Assembly resolution.
Prime Minister Sharif noted that, despite 78 years, the Kashmiri people have been unable to exercise this right. He described the region as one of the most-militarized zones globally, where residents live under fear and intimidation.
He mentioned the challenges faced by political activists and human rights defenders, including prolonged detentions and property confiscation. The banning of political parties representing Kashmiri aspirations was cited as a measure to stifle dissent.
The prime minister accused India of consolidating its occupation of the region, particularly after the actions of August 5, 2019, aimed at altering the area’s demographics and politics to disempower Kashmiris.
Reiterating Pakistan’s stance, he affirmed that the Jammu and Kashmir dispute remains central to its foreign policy. Pakistan will continue to provide moral, diplomatic, and political support to the Kashmiri people until their self-determination rights are realized, as per UN Security Council resolutions.
Prime Minister Sharif also praised the determination and bravery of the Kashmiri people in their ongoing struggle for fundamental rights and freedoms.
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