ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in a statement commemorating Kashmir Accession Day on July 19, emphasized that enduring peace in South Asia hinges on a just and peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue.
He reaffirmed Pakistan’s steadfast support for the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination and urged the international community to uphold its commitments.
Reflecting on the significance of the day, the prime minister recalled the landmark resolution passed by the leadership of Jammu and Kashmir in 1947, advocating for the region’s accession to Pakistan — a decision Pakistan continues to honor as part of its historical and political stance.
He paid tribute to the generations of Kashmiris who, in his words, have made “immense and unwavering sacrifices” in their decades-long pursuit of freedom. “Even in the face of relentless occupation and military presence, the determination of the Kashmiri people has not faltered,” he said.
Prime Minister Sharif drew attention to the legacy of resilience passed down through generations of Kashmiris, saying that today’s youth have inherited the same sense of purpose and resolve demonstrated by their forebears during the partition era.
He once again called for a resolution of the dispute in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolutions, stressing that such a move is critical for ensuring peace and stability in the broader region.
Sharif also strongly condemned what he described as ongoing “gross human rights abuses” in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), criticizing the Indian government’s policies and urging global actors to break their silence.
“The global community must not turn a blind eye to the suffering of the Kashmiri people. Their legitimate right to decide their own future must be recognized and respected,” the prime minister stated.
Each year on July 19, Pakistan commemorates the 1947 decision by the then Kashmiri leadership to join Pakistan — a moment seen by Islamabad as a defining chapter in the region’s historical narrative.
