On February 5, every year, Kashmir Day is observed in Pakistan in order to reaffirm solidarity with the people of Jammu and Kashmir and also to highlight a dispute that has remained unresolved for more than seven decades. The day serves not only as a reminder of history, but also as a call to conscience for the international community.
Historical Roots of the Kashmir Dispute
The Kashmir issue started back in 1947, this is when during the partition of the subcontinent the future of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir was left undecided. Despite repeated resolutions passed by the United Nations Security Council stressing on the right of the Kashmiri people to self-determination through a free and impartial plebiscite, the promise still remains unfulfilled
Human Rights and International Responsibility
Moving beyond the Diplomacy, Kashmir Day draws attention of the people to a greater issue, to the loss of human lives and the ignored human cost of this conflict, also to the freedom of the Kashmiri people which is long due. Decades of instability, restrictions, and cycles of violence have deeply affected the daily life in the region. Families have lived under prolonged uncertainty with generations growing up in fear, and limited opportunities for growth. Multiple Human rights organizations and international observers have repeatedly expressed their concern over this situation and have called for accountability, restraint, and protection of civilian lives in the area
When we look at the Kashmir issue from an International perspective, it is not simply a bilateral issue but it is an issue which carries implications for regional stability and also global peace. Pakistan continues to urge the international community while staying firm on its stance on the issue, including the United Nations and major world powers, to play a more active role in facilitating a fair and lasting resolution. The respect for international law and human rights is primary, along with this the aspirations of the Kashmiri people remains central to this call.
The occasion of Kashmir day is characterized by rallies, seminars, and other symbolic gestures of unity. Through these activities the issue is meant to kept alive in public discourse and to remind the world that the voices of the Kashmiri people cannot be ignored forever.
Kashmir Day is ultimately not only about remembrance, but truly it’s about responsibility which is shared by everyone and not just one, it is a collective responsibility which is ignored by many, and this responsibility is to history, to justice, and to the people who continue to wait for their right to decide their own future.