Kashmiris Worldwide Mark Self-Determination Day, Call for UN to Fulfill Its 75-Year-Old Promise

Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control and around the world are observing Self-Determination Day today, reaffirming their determination to continue their fight for their inalienable right to self-determination until it is realized.

The Self-Determination Day commemoration is organized by the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, which has called on the international community to remember that the United Nations passed a resolution on January 5, 1949, guaranteeing a fair and free plebiscite for the people of Kashmir. This day serves as a reminder that the global community must not ignore its responsibility toward Kashmir’s unresolved dispute.

The United Nations is called upon to honor the promise it made 75 years ago. Kashmiris continue to endure oppression by Indian occupying forces, which have turned the region into one of the world’s most militarized zones. Despite the grave human rights violations, Kashmiris remain resolute in their struggle for freedom, only to face brutal suppression through India’s state-sponsored terrorism.

Indian authorities have enacted laws like the Disturbed Areas Act, Armed Forces Special Powers Act, and Public Safety Act, enabling unlawful detentions and extrajudicial killings. The basic rights of the people—such as life, property, freedom of expression, and the right to assembly—have been systematically denied.

Since the controversial actions of August 5, 2019, India has created a climate of fear and instability in Kashmir, disregarding international law and UN resolutions. These measures continue to violate the fundamental right of Kashmiris to self-determination.

The right to self-determination is a cornerstone of the UN Charter, and its denial undermines international treaties and agreements. It is the moral and legal obligation of the global community to ensure that the promises made to the Kashmiri people are fulfilled. India’s actions, including the illegal measures imposed on August 5, 2019, and the recent Indian Supreme Court verdict, which attempts to alter the status of the disputed region, are violations of international law and UN resolutions.

Pakistan will continue to provide unwavering moral, political, and diplomatic support to the people of Kashmir, in line with UN Security Council resolutions, until they are granted their right to self-determination. Pakistan’s leadership in securing a resolution at the United Nations on the right of self-determination has received widespread international backing.