Kashmir dispute settlement only way to achieve peace in South Asia: President Zardari reaffirm
In his message issued to mark Right to Self-Determination Day, President Zardari said that on January 5, the people of Pakistan stood in solidarity with the people of Jammu and Kashmir to commemorate the adoption of a 1949 UN resolution that recognised the disputed status of the territory and affirmed the Kashmiri people’s right to determine their future through a free and impartial plebiscite.
He noted that more than seven decades later, the commitment made by the United Nations remained unfulfilled, adding that the passage of time had neither weakened the validity of UN resolutions nor diminished the legitimacy of the Kashmiri people’s demand for self-determination.
The continued denial of this right, he said, was in clear contradiction to the UN Charter and international law.
President Zardari expressed serious concern over the prevailing situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, pointing to restrictions on political activity and freedom of expression, prolonged detentions and the use of coercive laws, which he said had created an atmosphere of fear and impunity.
He added that civilians continued to suffer, with families displaced and livelihoods disrupted.
The President also highlighted emerging challenges related to control over rivers originating in Jammu and Kashmir, warning that India’s unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty was a grave development with serious implications for the lives of Kashmiris and regional stability.
He termed the move an attempt to weaponize water, threatening livelihoods, food security and peace for millions dependent on shared resources.
Reiterating Pakistan’s position, President Zardari said the Jammu and Kashmir dispute was rooted in the aspirations of the Kashmiri people and could not be resolved through force or unilateral actions.
He stressed that lasting peace in South Asia was possible only through dialogue and the implementation of UN Security Council resolutions, without prejudice to the recognised positions of the parties.
Calling upon the United Nations and the wider international community to move beyond expressions of concern, the President urged concrete steps to enable Kashmiris to exercise their inalienable right to self-determination and to address ongoing human rights violations.
He concluded by reaffirming that Pakistan would continue to stand with the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir in their just and peaceful struggle for dignity, justice and a future of their own choosing.
PM’s message
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif said the world must recognize that a just resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute was the only way to achieve durable peace in South Asia.
In his message on the Right to Self-Determination Day observed on January 5, 2026, PM Shehbaz said, “We urge the international community to urgently call upon India to halt its widespread human rights violations in IIOJK, reverse its unilateral and illegal actions of 5 August 2019, repeal the draconian laws and give the right to self-determination to the Kashmiri people, as enshrined in the United Nations Security Council resolutions.”
“Pakistan will continue to extend its unwavering moral, political, and diplomatic support to your cause, and will continue to serve as your voice at every available platform,” he said adding, “Today, as we commemorate the Right to Self-determination Day, we solemnly reaffirm our unwavering support for the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) in their just struggle for the right to self-determination.”
“The 5th of January serves as a powerful reminder of the historic commitment made by the international community, enshrined in the United Nations Security Council resolutions, to uphold the right to self-determination for the people of Occupied Jammu and Kashmir,” he added.
He said, “On 5 January 1949, the United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan (UNCIP) adopted the landmark resolution, which unequivocally stipulated that the final disposition of the State of Jammu and Kashmir, would be decided through a free and impartial plebiscite under the auspices of the United Nations.”
The prime minister said, “Sadly, this commitment remains unfulfilled to this day, as the resolution has never been implemented, due to India’s illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir.”
“The people of IIOJK have witnessed nearly eight decades of ordeal at the hands of Indian occupation forces.
Their suffering has exacerbated manifolds since 5 August 2019 when India undertook illegal and unilateral measures, as part of its systematic campaign to transform the demographic and political landscape of the IIOJK,” he continued.
He said, “India has made consistent efforts to silence the genuine leadership of the Kashmiri people and muzzle the media.
The number of Kashmiri political prisoners remains in thousands, while sixteen political outfits have been outlawed by occupation authorities.
Meanwhile, profiling and harassment of innocent Kashmiris, arbitrary detentions, and the so-called cordon and search operations have become a norm 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,” he concluded.
from Latest Pakistan News - SUCH TV https://ift.tt/5AxQZct
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