MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): Prime Minister Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Faisal Mumtaz Rathore, has said that Kashmir conflict is not just a bilateral or regional issue, but an internationally-recognized dispute, deriving its legitimacy from multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions.
He expressed these views while addressing, via video link, a conference titled “Vision Kashmir: Pathways to Peace and Stability,” organized by the Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS).
A just and peaceful resolution, he said, is essential not only for the Kashmiri people but also for lasting peace and stability in South Asia.
PM Rathore said that Kashmir Solidarity Day reaffirms Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to Kashmir cause and the firm resolve of the Kashmiri people that they would never give up their inalienable right to self-determination.
The day, he said, also serves as a reminder to the international community that, despite the lapse of more than seven decades, the Kashmir dispute remains unresolved.
Highlighting the impacts of Indian imperialism over the region, the Prime Minister stated that Indian occupation forces deployed in occupied Kashmir have been involved in serious human rights violations including extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and arbitrary detentions.
He pointed out that essential fundamental freedoms such as the right to freedom of expression, the right to peaceful protest and assembly remain severely restricted. “These restrictions constitute a clear violation of international law,” he added.
Referring to India’s contentious move to revoke Article 370 and 35-A in 2019, Rathore said the controversial decision was a brazen violation of the UN resolutions.
Terming India’s actions as illegal, he said that attempts to alter the demographic composition and distort the region’s identity pose a threat to regional peace.
Age-old bond between Pakistan and Kashmir
He made it clear that such actions cannot suppress the legitimate aspirations of the Kashmiri people. He also highlighted the age-old bond between Pakistan and the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, saying that it is rooted in shared history, faith, and sacrifices.
Pakistan, he said, has been an uncompromising supporter and an advocate of the Kashmiris’ rights. “Pakistan has consistently extended moral, political, and diplomatic support to the Kashmiri people at every international forum,” he remarked.
He described Azad Jammu and Kashmir as a living example of a modern democratic state, where people enjoy political freedom, equal social and developmental opportunities .
