Kashmir Day

LAHORE-Kashmir Solidarity Day will be observed on February 5 (today) in Pakistan and Azad Kashmir with great national fervour.
It will be a public holiday and all govt, semi-govt offices, educational institutions, commercial centres and markets will remain closed.
The day is observed to express solidarity with Kashmiri brethren in their just struggle to resolve the Kashmir dispute according to UN resolutions.
The dispute is unresolved since the past 60 years after the Indian refusal to allow plebiscite in Kashmir in order to facilitate Kashmiris to decide their fate according to the UN resolutions which were adopted to resolve conflict between India and Pakistan on Kashmir issue.
The successive Indian govts not only refused to hold plebiscite but continued rhetoric of Kashmir as ‘atootang’ of India.
During Pervez Musharraf’s regime, a fresh attempt was made to resolve Kashmir dispute by dialogue but Indian stubborn attitude hampered the dialogue between Pervez Musharraf and Indian former Prime Minister Vajpayee.
However, later both the countries agreed to resume the composite dialogue including Kashmir dispute alongwith other issues of trade and cultural exchange. Both the countries also resolved to make confidence building measures before the meaningful talks.
However, nothing tangible came out of these dialogues despite unilateral CBMs by Pakistan and now the composite dialogue are also not progressing as anticipated.
The political, social organisations and Kashmiri organisations will stage protest demos, seminars and symposium on the day. One minute silence would also be observed to pay tributes to Kashmiri martyres.
A chain of human hands will be made by Pakistani and Kashmiri people from Rawalpindi/Islamabad to Muzaffarabad in Azad Kashmir as a sign of unity and solidarity. Pakistani and Kashmiri delegations will present memorandum to UN office in Islamabad demanding plebiscite in Kashmir according to the UN resolutions.
In Lahore, a number of seminars and symposium will be held on the day. Nazria Pakistan Foundation, Kashmir Action Committee, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, Kashmir Centre and other Kashmiri organisations will stage protest demos.
President, PM for just solution of Kashmir
Our staff reporter adds: President Pervez Musharraf has said that Pakistan would continue to extend its moral, political and diplomatic support for a just and peaceful settlement of the Kashmir dispute, in accordance with the wishes of Kashmiri people.
“We remain engaged in a sincere, sustained and purposeful dialogue with India on Kashmir. We believe that with sincerity, courage and flexibility, we can achieve a solution to the long-standing Kashmir dispute,” the President said in his message on Kashmir Solidarity Day.
He said that Pakistan always stressed the need to end violence and human rights abuses in Indian occupied Kashmir. He said that Pakistan firmly believed that an enabling environment is necessary for the success of peace process.
“Today, we observe the Kashmir Solidarity Day; we salute the families of over ninety thousand Kashmiris who have sacrificed their lives in the valiant struggle to attain their inalienable right to freedom. Pakistan extends its full support for the inherent rights of the Kashmiri people to determine their own destiny,” the President said.
Prime Minister Muhammadmian Soomro said,”The Government of Pakistan remains steadfast in extending its full support to the Kashmiris in their struggle of freedom.”
“We observe Kashmir Solidarity Day every year to mark our unwavering political, moral and diplomatic support to the valiant struggle of our Kashmiri brothers and sisters to achieve their legitimate right to self-determination,” the Prime Minister said in his message on Kashmir Solidarity Day.
The Prime minister said that on behalf of the Government and the people, he would like to say that Kashmir Solidarity Day would be observed across the country and Azad Kashmir today (Tuesday) with a pledge to express solidarity with the oppressed Kashmiri people in their struggle for right to self-determination.

The Nation

I dont know if to say "Happy Kashmir Day" because the situation in occupied Kashmir is not such that we should be celebrating. For 60 years the people of Indian occupied Kashmir have only faced Martial Law. India claim to be the world largest democracy but in Kashmir the people have no right to choose. India's first Prime Minister said that India would hold an election in Kashmir to determine which nation the people of Kashmir wanted to join, but 60 years later nothing. Judging by India's recent brutalities we shouldn't expect elections in Kashmir in the near future. India has used force to keep its federation. They used force in Jundagh, Hyderabad, Goa, Kashmir and many other places. At peace talks India seems ready to talk about everything except for Kashmir. 60 years on its about time that India fulfill the promise that it made to the people of Kashmir 60 years ago. Let them decide, let them have a voice in your democracy, let them vote.