Kashmir Solidarity Day is observed annually on 5 February. Every Pakistani across the world shows solidarity with the people of Kashmir and reaffirms their right to self-determination with full enthusiasm. The primary purpose of observing this day is to remind India and the international community of the basic and inalienable right of self-determination of the Kashmiri people.
Kashmir is a Muslim-majority region that faced severe oppression in March 1846 when it was sold to Raja Gulab Singh by the British East India Company for 7.5 million rupees. Despite being a Muslim-majority state, it was ruled by a Sikh ruler, which led to spontaneous and unorganized protests by the Kashmiri Muslims. Later, in 1931, the Kashmiri people raised their voices in an organized manner; however, the movement was crushed mercilessly, resulting in the martyrdom of thousands of Muslims. In 1932, the Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference was founded by Sheikh Abdullah and Chaudhry Ghulam Abbas. It was later renamed the National Conference by Sheikh Abdullah.
The Pakistan Resolution was passed on 23 March 1940. The letter “K” in the word Pakistan represents Kashmir, highlighting its pivotal importance in the Pakistan Movement. In 1941, Chaudhry Ghulam Abbas revived the Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference and initiated the struggle for Kashmir's freedom in collaboration with the Muslim League. In July 1940, Maharaja Hari Singh promised to grant Kashmiris their right to self-determination. In the subsequent elections, the Muslim Conference won 19 out of 22 seats, clearly reflecting the will of the Kashmiri people. A historic convention of the Muslim Conference was held in January 1947, during which Maharaja Hari Singh was urged to accede Kashmir to Pakistan; however, this demand was ignored. Eventually, on 26 October 1947, Maharaja Hari Singh acceded Kashmir to India, and the very next day, the Indian army entered Kashmir. India subsequently brought the Kashmir issue before the United Nations Security Council, which passed several resolutions calling for a plebiscite to determine the future of Kashmir. However, these resolutions have not been implemented to date.
Operation Gibraltar and the India-Pakistan War of 1965 occurred due to the unresolved Kashmir issue. The matter of plebiscite was also discussed in the Tashkent Agreement (1966) and the Shimla Agreement (1972), but without any concrete outcome. In 1975, Sheikh Abdullah signed an agreement with Indira Gandhi in return for the office of Chief Minister, under which Kashmir was declared an inseparable part of India. Under Articles 370 and 35A, special legal status was granted to Kashmir, including its own legislature and flag. Between 1987 and 1990, the Kashmiri people made immense sacrifices for the freedom of Kashmir.
In this context, Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami, Qazi Hussain Ahmad, declared 5 February as Kashmir Solidarity Day in 1990, with the support of PML-N and PPP. Later, in 2004, the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs officially declared 5 February a public holiday, and it has been observed annually since then. Every year, Pakistanis express their support for their Kashmiri brothers by forming human chains and participating in solidarity activities. The martyrdom of Tufail Ahmad (2010) and Burhan Wani (2016) further intensified the movement.
In 2019, India revoked the special status of Kashmir by abrogating Articles 370 and 35A. While some countries termed it an internal matter, others considered it unjust. The United Nations maintained a neutral stance, emphasizing peace and dialogue, whereas human rights organizations termed it a grave and blatant violation of human rights.
The Kashmir issue remains unresolved today, just as it was in 1947, and the world has failed to provide the Kashmiri people with their rightful opportunity for self-determination. What kind of progress is this, where human beings are oppressed even in the 21st century and denied the freedom to live according to their own will? It is indeed a tragic situation. The world must not remain indifferent. If international bodies, including the United Nations, fail to deliver just and practical solutions to long-standing disputes, they risk becoming mere white elephants, and such injustices may ultimately sow the seeds of global conflict and instability.
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