Protests Sweep Pakistan Over Kashmir Crisis
Citizens formed human chains, organized rallies, and convened seminars throughout major urban centers—including the capital Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, and Quetta—commemorating "Kashmir Solidarity Day," an annual observance dating back to the early 1990s.
Parallel gatherings unfolded in Muzaffarabad, the administrative center of Pakistan-controlled Kashmir—locally referred to as "Azad or liberated Kashmir"—and surrounding municipalities.
The nationwide holiday commenced with special mosque prayers calling for Kashmir's liberation. At 10 a.m. local time (0600GMT), the entire nation paused for a 60-second moment of silence.
Parliamentary grounds in Islamabad hosted the primary demonstration, drawing substantial crowds comprising federal ministers, parliamentary members, women, students, and Kashmiri representatives.
At Kohala Bridge—the crossing point linking Islamabad to Pakistan-administered Kashmir—hundreds of demonstrators assembled in human chain formation.
Ceremonial proceedings featured flag-raising rituals and national anthem performances, with government officials, community delegates, and ordinary citizens participating.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif traveled to Muzaffarabad for discussions with Kashmiri leadership, reinforcing Pakistan's commitment to their "freedom struggle."
President Asif Ali Zardari issued a statement emphasizing Islamabad's "steadfast moral, diplomatic and political" support for the Kashmiri people, reaffirming their "inalienable right to self-determination" as enshrined in the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council.
Sharif in his message, urged the international community to play an effective role in getting the Kashmiri people their "inalienable right through a free and impartial plebiscite under the auspices of the UN."
Military leadership from all three service branches issued a joint statement "strongly" condemning "grave violations of human rights in IIOJK (illegally Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir) including extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, arbitrary detentions, and attempts to alter the demographic and political landscape of the region, with blatant disregard for international law."
The commanders emphasized that a "just and peaceful resolution" of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, in accordance with the UNSC resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people, "remains essential for lasting peace and stability in South Asia."
India provided no immediate response to Pakistan's Kashmir-related declarations.
The Himalayan territory of Kashmir—predominantly Muslim in population—remains divided between Indian and Pakistani control, though both nations claim complete sovereignty. China also administers a smaller portion of the region.
Following their 1947 partition, the two nations have engaged in three armed conflicts—occurring in 1948, 1965, and 1971—with Kashmir serving as the catalyst for two of these wars.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
