Pakistan marks 78th Kashmir Accession Day with nationwide events

Pakistan observed the 78th Kashmir Accession Day (Youm-e-Ilhaq-e-Pakistan) on Sunday with rallies, seminars, conferences, and special ceremonies

Pakistan observed the 78th Kashmir Accession Day (Youm-e-Ilhaq-e-Pakistan) on Sunday with rallies, seminars, conferences, and special ceremonies held across the country, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), and among Kashmiri communities living abroad. The day commemorates the historic resolution adopted on July 19, 1947, by the All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference in support of the accession of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir to Pakistan.

The occasion was marked with public gatherings organised by government institutions, political parties, civil society organisations, and student groups. Pakistani and Kashmiri flags were displayed in cities and towns, while speakers at various events highlighted the historical importance of the 1947 resolution and renewed calls for a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif issued separate messages reaffirming Pakistan’s continued support for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. They said Pakistan remains committed to backing the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination through peaceful means and in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.

President Zardari said the day represents the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and reflects Pakistan’s long-standing position on the dispute. He stated that Pakistan has consistently supported a peaceful and just settlement of the issue in line with United Nations resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people. He also urged the international community, particularly the United Nations, to take practical steps to help implement its resolutions on Kashmir.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described Kashmir Accession Day as an important milestone in the political history of the region. He said the resolution adopted on July 19, 1947, reflected the collective desire of the Muslims of Jammu and Kashmir to accede to Pakistan. He added that the resolution remains a significant chapter in the political struggle of the Kashmiri people.

The prime minister said the occasion also highlights the strong historical, cultural, religious, and geographical ties between Pakistan and Jammu and Kashmir. He stressed that lasting peace and stability in South Asia depend on a peaceful settlement of the Kashmir dispute in line with the aspirations of the Kashmiri people and the relevant UN resolutions.

Paying tribute to the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), the prime minister praised their resilience and determination in pursuing what Pakistan describes as their legitimate rights. He reiterated that Pakistan would continue to provide diplomatic, political, and moral support to the Kashmiri people until they are able to exercise their right to self-determination.

Kashmir Accession Day marks the anniversary of the resolution passed on July 19, 1947, at a meeting of the All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference in Srinagar. The resolution called for the accession of Jammu and Kashmir to Pakistan, citing religious, geographical, cultural, and economic links with the country. The event took place less than a month before the creation of Pakistan and India following the partition of British India.