Islamabad (Web Desk): President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif have reaffirmed Pakistan’s firm moral, political and diplomatic backing for the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) as they continue their peaceful struggle to secure the right to self-determination.
In separate messages issued on the occasion of Right to Self-Determination Day, being observed on Monday (today), the president and the premier noted that January 5 commemorates the adoption of a United Nations (UN) resolution in 1949 which recognized the right of the Kashmiri people to decide their future through a free and impartial plebiscite conducted under UN supervision.
President Asif Ali Zardari, in his message, reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering support for the people of Jammu and Kashmir and called on the international community to play a meaningful and effective role in ensuring the implementation of long-standing UN resolutions on the dispute.
He said that on January 5, the people of Pakistan stand united with the people of Jammu and Kashmir in recalling the historic UN resolution that acknowledged the disputed status of the territory and affirmed the Kashmiris’ right to determine their destiny.
The president pointed out that more than 70 years later, the promise made by the United Nations remains unfulfilled.
He emphasized that the passage of time has neither weakened the relevance of the UN resolutions nor diminished the legitimacy of the Kashmiri people’s demand for self-determination.
The continued denial of this right, he said, stands in clear violation of the UN Charter and international law.
Expressing deep concern over the situation prevailing in IIOJK, President Zardari highlighted restrictions on political activities and freedom of expression, prolonged detentions, and the enforcement of coercive laws.
He said these measures have created an atmosphere of fear and impunity, while ordinary civilians continue to suffer, with families displaced and livelihoods severely affected.
The president also drew attention to emerging challenges related to control over rivers originating from Jammu and Kashmir.
He warned that India’s unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) was a serious and alarming development with far-reaching consequences for the lives of Kashmiris and for regional stability.
Describing the move as an attempt to weaponize water, he cautioned that it threatens livelihoods, food security and peace for millions who depend on shared water resources.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s consistent stance, President Zardari said the Jammu and Kashmir dispute is rooted in the wishes and aspirations of the Kashmiri people and cannot be resolved through force or unilateral actions.
He stressed that lasting peace in South Asia can only be achieved through dialogue and the full implementation of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions, without prejudice to the recognized positions of the parties concerned.
The president urged the UN and the international community to move beyond routine expressions of concern and take concrete steps to enable the people of Jammu and Kashmir to exercise their inalienable right to self-determination, while also addressing ongoing human rights violations in the occupied territory.
President Zardari reaffirmed that Pakistan would continue to stand firmly with the people of IIOJK in their just and peaceful struggle for dignity, justice and a future of their own choosing.
In his message on the occasion, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that the international community must acknowledge that a fair and just settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute is essential for achieving durable peace in South Asia.
Marking Right to Self-Determination Day on January 5, 2026, he urged the world to press India to immediately end widespread human rights violations in IIOJK, reverse its unilateral and illegal actions of August 5, 2019, repeal harsh laws and allow the Kashmiri people to exercise their right to self-determination in line with UN Security Council resolutions.
The prime minister reaffirmed that Pakistan would continue to extend steadfast moral, political and diplomatic support to the Kashmiri cause and would remain their voice at every available international forum.
He said that as the day is commemorated, Pakistan once again renews its unwavering solidarity with the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir in their legitimate struggle for self-determination.
PM Shehbaz noted that January 5 serves as a powerful reminder of the historic commitment made by the international community, as reflected in UNSC resolutions, to uphold the right to self-determination for the people of occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
Recalling events of January 5, 1949, the prime minister said the United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan had adopted a landmark resolution clearly stating that the final status of the state would be decided through a free and impartial plebiscite under UN auspices.
PM Shehbaz regretted that this commitment remains unfulfilled to this day, as the resolution has never been implemented due to what he described as India’s illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir.
He said the people of IIOJK have endured nearly eight decades of suffering under occupation, a situation that has worsened significantly since August 5, 2019, when India took unilateral and illegal measures aimed at altering the region’s demographic and political landscape.
The premier added that India has consistently attempted to silence the genuine leadership of the Kashmiri people and suppress independent media.
Thousands of Kashmiri political prisoners remain incarcerated, 16 political organizations have been banned, and practices such as profiling, harassment of innocent civilians, arbitrary detentions and so-called cordon-and-search operations have become routine in the occupied territory.
“Nevertheless, all Indian coercive measures have failed to subjugate the will of the people of IIOJK or suppress their quest for the right to self-determination. The people of Pakistan salute their indomitable courage, commitment and resilience, in the face of Indian atrocities,” the premier concluded.