Kashmir Solidarity Day is observed on the 5th of February every year in Pakistan, Azad Kashmir and all over the world by Pakistanis and Kashmiris. it is also observed by Kashmiri nationalists to support the people of Indian occupied Kashmir, to acknowledge their ongoing freedom struggle, sacrifices and struggle for the right of self-determination
Rallies are conducted to acknowledge the struggle of Kashmiris, protests are carried out against the Indian oppression of Kashmir, also observe peace walks and special prayers in mosques for the freedom of Kashmir.
Pakistan’s contribution for Kashmir Cause
Pakistan has always taken the stand of Kashmir, It is Pakistan that has highlighted the Kashmir issue everywhere either it’s in international organizations, institutions or any platform.
If we talked about Pakistan’s role for Kashmir in the past 10 years than we can say that, Pakistan always raised the issue of Kashmir from time to time but sadly not sustained to it, but from July 2016 after the death of freedom fighter and Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Muzaffar Wani, Pakistan raised Kashmir’s issue in every platform.
The Impact of Burhan Wani’s killing has made most significant change in the Kashmir’s movement but also violence is increased in Kashmir valley and again Pakistan tried his best to show the world the true face of India the biggest and old democracy of world that exposed itself, how they spread state terrorism and locked down valley with 8 million people including women children and sick people for more than 7 months.
Pakistan is the voice of innocent Kashmiris. Imran Khan, the prime minister of Pakistan declared himself as an ambassador of Kashmir, He has made his mark on the World Forums.
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He raised voice on the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly and His speech was heard and applauded by nations across continents.
Attempted to persuade OIC to genuinely raise voice for Kashmir. Countrywide demonstrations on Friday, supported by the government.
Pakistan refused Indian PM Modi’s request to open airspace for traveling, also asked President Trump to intervene, on the Kashmir issue.
OIC contribution for Kashmir Cause
OIC is an organization that was built on the name of Islam and to protect the interest of the Muslim world but fundamentally not doing anything except passing resolutions.
Pakistan has always used the OIC platform to raise the voice of Kashmir. India would have done so much many things to back tweaking Kashmir. When Kashmir was under threat and curfew was imposed on the valley what OIC did?
OIC invites Shushma Swaraj, foreign minister of India as a guest of honor so, OIC’s behavior is the same as other countries.
Turkey took the strong stand on the issue of Kashmir and no one was standing with Pakistan except Turkey. There is no fruitful decision to date in favor of Kashmir. Kashmir is likely to remain part of the OIC requiring a more informed approach to resolve the Kashmir Issue.
Ceremonies in connection with Kashmir Solidarity Day in various countries
Pakistani communities held ceremonies in connection with Kashmir Solidarity Day in various countries, including UK, Turkey, Belgium, Algeria, and Tajikistan, to express wholehearted support to Kashmiri people for their freedom struggle and their right to self-determination.
UK
Kashmir solidarity was observed in Pakistan high commission in London where a large number of Pakistani/Kashmiri community and friends of Pakistan’s from other communities participated in the event in an expression of solidarity with the people of IOK.
Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Mohammad Nafees Zakaria and British Parliamentarians expressed deep concerns over gross human rights violations in occupied Kashmiris by Indian forces.
International conference on Kashmir held at the British Parliament and has adopted a resolution expressing concerns over plight Kashmiri people and the resolution urged the international community including the UN to take the immediate and effective measures to address the human rights situation in IOK.
Turkey
Turkey always supported the cause of Kashmir and plays an important and positive role in this regard. In the 74th session of UN national Assembly 2019, The president of Turkey, Tayyip Erdogan advocated the speedy resolution of this long-standing dispute to achieve peace and stability in the region.
Pakistan-Turkey Cultural Association Organized a Kashmir Solidarity Day event in Ankara. Participants expressed their full support to the oppressed people of Kashmir and their democratic right to self-determination.
A large number of Turkish Parliamentarians, Turkish political parties, representatives of several, local media, think-tanks, as well as a huge turnout of the Pakistani diaspora and students in Turkey attends this event.
Pakistan embassy Ankara and Turkish Think-tank Economic and Social Research Center (ESAM) also organized a seminar to mark Kashmir solidarity day with the expression of strong support for the right to self-determination of the Kashmiris living (IOJ&K). Pakistan’s Ambassador M. Haroon Shaukat acknowledged the remarkable support of the people and Government of Turkey in this regard.
Belgium
Kashmir Council Europe organized an event of a candlelight vigil in Brussels, the capital of Belgium, a large number of people from all walk of life and members of Human rights organization attend the event to express solidarity with oppressed people of Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK).
Possible solutions to the Kashmir issue
Kashmir exists between two weapon neighboring states Pakistan and India and it has been a flashpoint between these two countries for more than 70 years.
India claims Kashmir to be its integral part and the present mass riot has observed indiscriminate use of pellet guns by Indian forces that have blinded thousands of unarmed youth of Jammu and Kashmir. India lockdown Kashmir valley, an inhumane curfew for more than 7 months.
Every single individual in Kashmir has suffered a lot and still, they are tolerating the violence and fighting for their lives and fighting for the right of self-determination so, India’s claim of Kashmir to be its “Attot Aung” is not justified.
A serious effort should be made to find a permanent solution for the dispute. Pakistan’s stance over this dispute is very clear and in recent UN general assembly’s session Prime minister Imran Khan emphasis to give rights to Kashmiris to decide what they want.
Pakistan expresses support and solidarity with the people of Indian administrated Kashmir. And raised Kashmir issue in every International forum. A strong, prosperous and developed Pakistan is in the interest of people of Kashmir as well as a prerequisite for peace and stability in the region.
The sustainable solution to this dispute to give Kashmiri’s the right to decide their fate either they want to live with Pakistan, India or as a separate and independent state.
Its time to lift all the restrictions and ending gross violations of human rights forthwith from Kashmir. No one has the right to decide Kashmir’s fate more than the Kashmiri nation as Kashmir had always wanted to be an independent country. Any referendum is likely to result in a majority vote of independence.
Or let the International community and UN to find a lasting solution to this dispute and should conduct a dialogue between Pakistan India and Kashmir. War is not an option, not at all as both countries are nuclear power so dialogue, discussion, and diplomacy are the best means to resolve disputes Both India and Pakistan are developing countries.
The Muslim world’s reaction to Kashmir cause
The Pakistani nation is standing united with Kashmir and become a strong voice of Kashmir in every platform.
Turkey Iran and Malaysia assured Pakistan their support on the issue of Kashmir While Arab countries are not vocal on the stance of Kashmir as they should have been, because of their trade with India more than the 7miliions Indian are currently working in Arab countries.
The volume of trade between India and Muslim countries is more than $100 billion while Pakistan’s total trade with Islamic countries is far less this is also the reason the Muslim world is not taking Kashmir issue seriously.
Saudia’s concerns over the latest developments and called for peaceful settlement and stability in the region and on the other hand trading with India’s Reliance Group over $15 billion deal. They go with back door policies.
UAE viewed Kashmir Issue as an internal matter of India. Turkey Iran and Malaysia assured Pakistan of their support on the issue of Kashmir.
Malaysia as a close partner of India and Pakistan has advised India and Pakistan to exercise restraint to prevent further escalation in Jammu and Kashmir.
President Erdogan is very clear about Kashmir and assured of Turkey’s unwavering support in the current Kashmir situation and they are standing along with Pakistan in this regard.
Iran comes in defense of Kashmir and believes that Kashmir’s current situation cannot be ignored. On August 21, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei took to social media to call on Narendra Modi’s government to reverse its actions in Kashmir and asked the Indian government to adopt a policy towards the people of Kashmir and prevent the oppression & bullying of Muslims in this region.
Muslim worlds can play a vital role to resolve this dispute between Pakistan and India and they can take a strong stance on the ongoing brutal situation in IOK they have a platform of OIC to raise their voice but the majority is thinking about their benefits which are good for their country.
Impacts of celebrating Kashmir Solidarity Day at home
The basic purposes of observing Kashmir Solidarity Day are to go over continued support to the troubled and oppressed people of the occupied Kashmir and to pull the attention of the international community towards the cruelties, killings, crimes against humanity and gross human rights violations by Indian occupational forces.
Celebrating solidarity day at home does not make any sense. Creating engagement, arranging rallies and peaceful gathering can give a powerful message to the world and create a powerful impact that we are a peaceful nation and also want positivity and peace in the region and we as a nation acknowledge the struggle of self-determination of the Kashmiri nation and we are standing with them and completing against India’s oppression on innocent Kashmiris.
Global powers (US, EU, UK, Iran, Afghanistan, China, Russia, Israel, and France) on Kashmir cause
Kashmir gains massive geopolitical and geostrategic importance because of its disputed status and the clashing claims of India and Pakistan over it. Global powers are now becoming aware of the tense nature of the unresolved Kashmir issue and its potential impact on their geopolitical, geostrategic and geo-economic interests in the region.
In a recent event of World Economic Forum in January 2020 Prime minister of Pakistan Imran Khan and The US President Donald Trump met and offers to mediate between India and Pakistan further he use his influence on India to resolve the Kashmir issue.
European Union
EU High Representative Federica Mogherini spoke by phone with the foreign affairs ministers of India and Pakistan, underlining the importance of avoiding the rise of tensions and supporting a bilateral political solution. EU’s support for a peaceful solution for the dispute and the current situation of Kashmir and the urge to take the important steps to restore the rights and freedoms of the population in Kashmir.
China
China is the old friend of Pakistan and a close ally strongly condemns India’s recent move to lock down Kashmir valley and called the move “unacceptable” and said that China would help Pakistan and defend “its genuine rights and interests” in the Kashmir region
Afghanistan
Afghanistan supports India’s approach to Kashmir and Russian called it an internal matter of India but The
Russia
Russian representative said India and Pakistan should resolve all issues through dialogue.
Israel supports India on the Kashmir issue and called Kashmir as an integral part of India. France, on the other hand, asked for a peaceful solution through political dialogue.
The world should think about the people of Kashmir and need to take important steps to restore the rights and freedom of the people of Kashmir. Give them a right of self-determination and also take action against the gross rights violation by India.
Referenced by DAWN
