Experts and citizens across Pakistan, including the Kashmiri community, reaffirmed their steadfast commitment to the right to self-determination and called upon the United Nations to implement the historic January 5, 1949, resolution to resolve the Kashmir dispute permanently.

In Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJ&K), leaders and organizations of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) reiterated their demand for the UN to address the Kashmir issue in line with the approved resolution.

On January 5, 1949, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) passed a resolution affirming the Kashmiris' right to self-determination through a UN-sponsored plebiscite. Pakistanis and Kashmiris observe this day annually as the Right to Self-Determination Day.

Speaking to APP in connection with the observance, experts highlighted India’s expansionist policies and intransigence as the primary obstacles to resolving the Kashmir dispute. They noted that the UN’s failure to enforce its 1949 resolution raises questions about the organization’s effectiveness in mediating this long-standing issue between two nuclear powers.

President Asif Ali Zardari reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering political, diplomatic, and moral support for the Kashmiri people in their just struggle for self-determination, as outlined in relevant UNSC resolutions. In his message marking the occasion, he emphasized the importance of honoring the 76th anniversary of the UNCIP resolution, which calls for the Jammu and Kashmir dispute to be settled through a free and impartial plebiscite under UN supervision.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif urged the international community, including the UN, to fulfill their commitments and take concrete steps to enable the Kashmiri people to exercise their right to self-determination. He called for an immediate end to human rights violations, the release of political prisoners, and the restoration of fundamental rights in IIOJ&K. The Prime Minister condemned India's ongoing actions since August 5, 2019, aimed at altering the demographic and political landscape of the region, asserting that such moves undermine the disputed status of Jammu and Kashmir.

Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, strongly condemned India’s unilateral revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status on August 5, 2019. He labeled these actions as draconian and an outright assault on Kashmiri rights. Sadiq reaffirmed that no amount of repression could weaken the resolve of the Kashmiri people in their pursuit of self-determination.

Echoing Pakistan’s steadfast support for Kashmir, Sadiq urged the international community to recognize the legitimate aspirations of the Kashmiri people and take meaningful measures to resolve the dispute peacefully, in accordance with UN resolutions.

Commemorations took place across Pakistan and the globe, with Kashmiri communities gathering to mark the day. Participants urged the UN and the global community to honor the commitment made 77 years ago through the January 5, 1948, resolution, guaranteeing Kashmiris the right to determine their future through a plebiscite.

At a seminar titled 'Engaging the International Community and Kashmir Diaspora: Raising Voices for Justice and the Right to Self-Determination' held in Islamabad, speakers condemned the continued human rights abuses by Indian forces in IIOJ&K. The event featured prominent figures, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir President, Barrister Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry;  Lord Qurban Hussain, prominent member of British House of Lord; Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai (Chairman, World Forum for Peace & Justice); Prof. Dr. Imtiaz Khan (George Washington University); Rana Qaim Noon (Chairman, Kashmir Committee); former AJK Prime Minister Sardar Muhammad Yaqub Khan; AJK Minister Imtiaz Nasim; APHC leader Sheikh Abdul Mateen, and others.

The seminar drew participation from APHC representatives, university students, researchers, activists, and media personnel. Speakers called on the international community to uphold their promises and support the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination, as enshrined in the UNCIP resolution of January 5, 1948.