Kashmir Solidarity Day: National Kashmir Conference Highlights Pakistan’s Unwavering Support for Kashmir’s Freedom

As Pakistan observes Kashmir Solidarity Day, a National Kashmir Conference in Islamabad, capital territory of Pakistan, underscores the nation’s continued commitment to Kashmir’s fight for self-determination, highlighting the sacrifices and struggles of the Kashmiri people.

The Kashmir Journalists Forum recently organized a National Kashmir Conference at the National Press Club in Islamabad to mark Kashmir Solidarity Day. The conference was attended by various political leaders, human rights activists, and media figures, all coming together to express solidarity with the people of Jammu and Kashmir, who continue to endure immense suffering under Indian occupation.

Notable attendees included former federal minister Mushahid Hussain Syed, former president and prime minister of Azad Kashmir Sardar Yaqoob Khan, Mushaal Hussein Mallick, the wife of Hurriyat leader Yasin Malik, and Afzal Butt, president of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), among others.

During the conference, Mushahid Hussain Syed highlighted the history of missed opportunities for resolving the Kashmir dispute, stating that the issue had been sabotaged four times, twice by Pakistan and twice by India. He emphasized that Kashmir and Palestine share a similar struggle for freedom and self-determination, and he called for talks with U.S. President Donald Trump to help find a permanent solution to these disputes. Syed also advocated for taking India to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for its actions in Kashmir, stressing that the blood of martyrs in both Palestine and Kashmir would not go in vain.

Sardar Yaqoob Khan shared his thoughts on the length of freedom movements, stating that they often take centuries to succeed. He reiterated that no compromise would be made on the Kashmir freedom movement, emphasizing that India’s billions of dollars spent in occupied Jammu and Kashmir had failed to buy the loyalty of the Kashmiri people. He firmly stated that no power in the world could deprive Kashmiris of their fundamental rights.

Mushaal Hussein Mallick, the chief guest at the event, spoke emotionally about the ongoing sacrifices in Kashmir, highlighting the painful experiences of Kashmiri families. She shared the personal grief of not being allowed to speak with her husband, Yasin Malik, after the death of her mother. Mallick also pointed out the injustice faced by those imprisoned in Jammu and Kashmir, who are unable to attend the last rites of their loved ones due to harsh restrictions.

The conference concluded with the unanimous passing of a resolution that reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to continue providing political, diplomatic, and moral support to the oppressed people of Kashmir. The resolution demanded that the governments of Pakistan and Azad Kashmir present a clear stance on the Kashmir issue, especially in light of the situation following the 2019 revocation of Article 370 and 35A. It also urged Pakistani media to continuously highlight the human rights violations in Kashmir, ensuring that Kashmir remains at the forefront of global discussions.

The resolution expressed gratitude to the people and government of Pakistan for observing Kashmir Solidarity Day annually and reiterated the determination to protect the unity of Jammu and Kashmir at all costs.

The conference was chaired by Irfan Saduzai, President of the Kashmir Journalists Forum. Other prominent speakers included Lt. General (Retd.) Abdul Qayyoom, Chairman of the Ex-Servicemen Society, Masood Ahmed, Chairman of the Kashmir Supreme League, and several senior journalists, such as Aizaz Syed and Danish Irshad, who also expressed their solidarity and commitment to Kashmir’s cause.