The people of Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir have observed Kashmir Solidarity Day for more than seventy-five years to demonstrate their continuous support for those living in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). Every year on February 5 millions of people raise their voices against India which commits human rights violations while denying people their right to self-determination. The symbolic solidarity between these two groups produces strong emotional and moral value. After more than seventy-five years, a critical question demands serious reflection: Is symbolic support enough, or is it time to move toward practical, strategic, and sustainable solutions?

IIOJK faces a critical situation because its current conditions present extreme danger to its people. The people of Kashmir experience arbitrary arrests together with enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings and they must endure extended periods of curfews and complete communication blackouts while facing severe limitations on their ability to move and express themselves. The region has become one of the world’s most heavily militarized regions which creates an atmosphere where people live under constant fear while being watched and experiencing unpredictable situations. The international human rights organizations Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have documented human rights abuses yet the world has failed to establish effective systems for holding people accountable for these violations.

The situation deteriorated more than anything else after India decided to remove Article 370 and Article 35A on August 5, 2019, which ended Jammu and Kashmir’s special constitutional status. The unconstitutional act brought about a massive change to political and legal and demographic aspects of society. IIOJK experienced its most extensive lockdowns which included the mass imprisonment of political leaders and civilians and the complete suspension of internet services and the military launched its most forceful operations after this decision. The new domicile laws created public anxiety about the possibility of manipulating demographics to change the region’s Muslim-majority population. The actions of the defendants include multiple grave breaches of international law and United Nations resolutions and essential human rights.

The United Nations Security Council has passed several resolutions that declare Kashmir a disputed area and protect the right of Kashmiris to self-determination through an unbiased plebiscite but these resolutions have not been carried out for more than 70 years. The Kashmir dispute remains an active conflict that poses serious threats to South Asia while endangering both regional and worldwide security. People throughout Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir observe Kashmir Solidarity Day with exceptional togetherness and intense dedication and deep determination. Solidarity without strategic planning leads to empty rituals that lack actual substance. The organization needs emotional support which should now become active work through diplomatic methods, political activity and academic research, and online efforts.

The current global situation enables Pakistan to maintain its diplomatic strength in all international relations. Pakistan demonstrated it had better strategic capacity when it managed to limit its military response during the recent India-Pakistan conflict while using effective diplomatic methods to build international trust. The international community now recognizes Pakistan as a nation that promotes peace through its active participation in diplomatic relations and its dedication to maintaining regional harmony. Pakistan achieved a higher diplomatic status because of this development which allowed the country to present the Kashmir dispute with renewed strength and authentic justification.

Pakistan gained international recognition through its active participation in peace initiatives which included President Donald Trump’s Peace Board and its diplomatic work during the Gaza ceasefire negotiations. Pakistan now has a unique opportunity to boost diplomatic activities which will establish Kashmir as the main unresolved issue that endangers worldwide peace and security.

The current situation needs to be addressed through developed plans. Pakistan should present its case about Kashmir through all international platforms which include the United Nations, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the European Union (EU), and important world capitals. The main elements of Pakistan’s Kashmir strategy should include strategic lobbying and international legal advocacy and work with global human rights organizations and ongoing relationships with worldwide media outlets. The aim should be to convert moral support into actual political influence and international responsibility.

The establishment of youth awareness together with their academic participation holds equal importance for educational institutions. The young people of Pakistan constitute its most significant asset because they maintain strong emotional bonds to Kashmir yet they do not comprehend its complete historical and political and legal background. The solution to this problem requires educational programs that provide systematic instruction. Academic institutions should create platforms for research activities which include seminars, conferences, and debates, and academic writing about Kashmir. Students need to receive encouragement for creating research papers together with articles and policy briefs and digital content. Youth who possess knowledge about global affairs can function as international advocates who combat false information while influencing worldwide discussions.

Social media serves as a dominant platform for competing narratives during the current digital age. Indian authorities have dedicated substantial resources towards developing propaganda together with disinformation efforts which aim to manipulate international public understanding of the Kashmir conflict. Pakistan needs to establish a unified digital outreach program to counter this situation. International public perception can be shaped through youth-driven social media initiatives which include online educational projects and documentary filmmaking and podcast creation and global hashtag campaigns. The use of global influencers together with multilingual digital content production will enable Kashmiri voices to reach international audiences.

Humanitarian advocacy efforts should be strengthened by civil society organizations together with non-governmental organizations. The Kashmiri struggle can be humanized through ongoing awareness activities which build international partnerships and conduct policy discussions and implement public diplomacy work. The lived experiences of Kashmiri victims and families and women and children should be highlighted to demonstrate the Kashmir conflict as a vital human rights issue which extends beyond geopolitical disputes.

The Kashmir Solidarity Day observance requires fundamental change because it needs to transform from its current state as a special day to an important strategic assessment event which evaluates progress and examines diplomatic successes while announcing plans. The annual program should produce specific results that show progress in diplomatic work and advocacy efforts and research initiatives and public education activities instead of showing the same symbolic results every year.

Kashmiris have faced severe hardships throughout their history yet they have shown remarkable strength. The people of Kashmir expect more than sympathy from others because they want both dignity and justice and the right to choose their own destiny. The time has arrived to stop using slogans for solidarity and instead work toward finding real solutions after decades of established solidarity.

The vision of a free and peaceful and just Kashmir can only become real through strategic diplomatic efforts, empowered youth and academic participation, digital advocacy, and consistent international diplomatic pressure.

This article is written by Anees Orangzaib student of international relations Fuuast Islamabad and currently serving as an intern at the Kashmir institute of international relations.