Kashmir Solidarity Day Since the partition of the Indian subcontinent into India and Pakistan in 1947, the Kashmir dispute has been a hot issue between both countries.

They were required to accede to either of the two states on the basis of the geographical location and wishes of their people.
The state of Jammu and Kashmir should have acceded to Pakistan because of its Muslim majority population and geographical location, but this was not happened when Mahraja Hari Singh seek military assistance from India to resist the Pakistani tribal’s attacks and ultimately signed the ‘Instrument of Accession’ with India. Eventually Indian forces intervened and captured the state of Jammu and Kashmir. From that day Kashmir dispute has been the core issue between both Pakistan and India, which also had kept the security of entire South Asia at stake because of their extensive nuclear capability.
So, the Kashmir issue has been a major bone of contention from the day of independence, resulted in three wars, numerous conflicts between India and Pakistan and severely rigid diplomacy. The United Nations Security Council had tried to resolve the dispute by declaring that the accession of Jammu and Kashmir to India or Pakistan should be decided through the democratic method by holding a free and fair plebiscite but India had rejected any mediation which opposed its claim regarding Kashmir.
Kashmir’s strategic importance lies in the fact that its borders meet with China and Afghanistan and also is close to Russia. Almost all the rivers which flow through Pakistan, originate from Kashmir, that’s why both the countries ignore stepping back claiming of this territory. The failure of diplomacy to resolve the Kashmir issue attracted international and regional attention to it. After the wars of 1948, 1962 and 1965, determined efforts were made to resolve this issue.
The normal relations between India and Pakistan on Kashmir would bring benefits to the United States. Indo-Pak tensions are especially dangerous because they bring two nuclear states on the brink of war. They divert Pakistan from fighting terrorists and militants on their own soils. India and Pakistan need to engage in combined bilateral talks on all important issues. Continuing tensions over Kashmir will weaken any initiative to bring stability to South Asia as well as bring about the risk of a nuclear war. It will be quite right by assuming that Kashmir is the root cause of much of the militancy in South Asia.
The situation after abrogation of article 370 by the Modi regime has worsened. On August 5, 2019, the Modi-led BJP government abrogated the special status of Jammu and Kashmir by repealing articles 370 and 35-A. A lockdown was imposed in the occupied Kashmir and Indian forces perpetrated unspeakable crimes against the Kashmiri people, with complete impunity.
India has started the process of converting a majority into a minority in held-Kashmir. They have drawn inspiration from Israel’s strategy of killing humanity. India is trying best to suppress the voice of Kashmiris by brutal actions but has totally failed in silencing them. India is continuously violating the rules of basic rights for Kashmiris. The media does not have free access and is unable to show the real picture of the disputed area.
Pakistan has safeguarded the rights of Kashmiri friends and well-wishers across the Line of Control between Pakistan and India from the beginning. The Pakistan Army has shown full solidarity with Kashmiris. Sacrifices of Pakistani people and the army are appreciable. Kashmiris consider Pakistanis as their brothers and love them from the bottom of their heart. Pakistanis display similar sentiments for Kashmiris. They stand united on the same page. Hearts of Kashmiris and Pakistanis beat together. In return, Kashmiris recognize sacrifices of Pakistanis and the army.
Kashmir Solidarity Day is observed on 5th February every year by people throughout Pakistan and Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK). It is an internationally recognized day observed by people, predominantly Kashmiris, worldwide. The day is marked by public processions, special prayers in mosques for the liberation of Kashmir and protests that are carried out against the Indian oppression of Kashmir.
Kashmir Solidarity Day is a national holiday observed in Pakistan on 5 February annually. It is observed to show Pakistan’s support and unity with the people of Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and Kashmiri Freedom Fighters efforts to secede from India, and to pay homage to the Kashmiris who have died in the conflict. Solidarity rallies are held in the Pakistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and around the globe. Kashmir Day was first proposed by Qazi Hussain Ahmad of the Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan in 1990, and supported by Pakistani Government of that time.
Readers, the current situation in Kashmir entails the Indian leadership to act on the United Nations resolutions on Kashmir. Immediate and bold decisions need to be made. It’s time to address the Kashmiri’s right of self-determination with more powerful voice. It is necessary for international community to realize that peace and stability in South Asia can only be guaranteed if all outstanding disputes between Pakistan and India, including the Kashmir dispute should be resolved because Pakistan has become a frontline state against the Global War of terrorism. The best solution of the Kashmir dispute could be the right of self determination which should be given to Kashmiris in order to give them the right to decide to whom they want to accede.

It’s our national responsibility to show solidarity with innocent citizens of the occupied Kashmir and observe the Day with full intensity for raising their voice and conveying the message around the globe.

By: Abdul Basit Alvi)