BRUSSELS/ISLAMABAD, (Unib Rashid) – Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering diplomatic, political and moral support for the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), stating that Pakistan will continue to stand by the Kashmiri people until they are able to exercise their internationally recognized right to self-determination.

In his message on the occasion of Youm-e-Ilhaq-e-Pakistan (Kashmir’s Accession to Pakistan Day), the Prime Minister said the day commemorates the historic resolution adopted by the All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference during its Srinagar session on July 19, 1947.

He noted that the unanimously adopted resolution reflected the collective political aspirations of the Muslims of Jammu and Kashmir at a defining moment in the history of the subcontinent. According to the Prime Minister, the resolution expressed their desire for the State’s accession to Pakistan and called upon the Dogra rulers to respect the will of the people. He described the resolution as a significant historical milestone in the political struggle of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the occasion also serves as a reminder of the enduring bonds between the peoples of Pakistan and Jammu and Kashmir, rooted in a shared history, faith, culture, geography and longstanding ties. He emphasized that the day underscores the importance of respecting the freely expressed will of the Kashmiri people.

Reiterating Pakistan’s longstanding position, the Prime Minister said the country remains steadfast in its principled support for the inalienable right to self-determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, as enshrined in the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.

He observed that the unresolved Jammu and Kashmir dispute continues to have far-reaching implications for regional peace and security. The Prime Minister stressed that lasting peace and stability in South Asia require a peaceful resolution of the dispute in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.

Paying tribute to the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised their courage, resilience and steadfastness in pursuing what he described as their just struggle for the realization of their fundamental rights.

“The Government and people of Pakistan salute the courage, resilience and steadfastness of the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir,” he said, reaffirming that Pakistan would continue to extend its unwavering diplomatic, political and moral support to the Kashmiri people until they are able to exercise their inalienable right to self-determination.