The Pakistan High Commission in the Maldives on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, celebrated the ‘Kashmir Solidarity Day.
A special convention was held at the Pakistani High Commission in Hulhumale’ to reaffirm the country’s solidary with the Kashmiri brethren in their struggle for right to self-determination in Jammu and Kashmir, the High Commission’s press statement read.
The event was attended by several Pakistani nationals residing in the Maldives along with locals.
Deputy Head of Mission of Pakistan High Commissioner, Mr. Zulqurnain Ahmed. (Photo: Pakistan High Commissioner)
The convention kicked off with Pakistan’s national anthem and the ‘Azad Jammu and Kashmir’ being played to express Pakistan’s resolve with ‘their Kashmiri brothers and sisters’ and a video on human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir was also showcased.
While welcoming the guests, the Deputy Head of Mission, Zulqurnain Ahmed appreciated the sentiments towards Kashmir.
Messages from both the President and the Prime Minister of Pakistan commemorating the ‘Kashmir Solidarity Day’ were read at the convention.
Pakistan High Commission in the Maldives hosted the 'Kashmir Solidarity Day' convention on Wednesday, February 05, 2025. (Photo: Pakistan High Commission)
While speaking on the occasion, Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the Maldives, Vice Admiral (retired) Faisal Rasul Ladhi, said that Pakistan was commemorating Kashmir Solidarity Day to “reaffirm the unwavering support to the Kashmiris in their just struggle for their right to self-determination.”
He also highlighted that the right to self-determination was a fundamental principle in international law, and noted that despite UN General Assembly adopting a resolution stressing on the legal right to decide their own way, Kashmiris “have not been able to exercise this inalienable right” in the last 78 years.
The High Commissioner also stressed Jammu and Kashmir being one of the oldest unresolved “items” on United Nations’ agenda.
“Thousands of Kashmiris have sacrificed their lives and suffered countless atrocities at the hands of the Indian Occupied Forces,” the office in its statement said quoting the High Commissioner.
Faisal further criticized the abrogation of Article 370 by the Indian government on August 5, 2019, which he claimed was both “illegal and unilateral”, and said these steps have been rejected by both Pakistan and Kashmiris.
He further noted that the Kasmir Solidarity Day was a reminder to the international community of “its responsibility towards the oppressed Kashmiri people” and called for the UN to honor its commitment it made 77 years ago to support the Kashmiri people’s struggle for self-determination.
In his closing remarks, the Pakistani High Commissioner reiterated Jammu and Kashmir dispute will remain a “key pillar” of Pakistan’s foreign policy, and added the country will continue its “unwavering, moral, diplomatic, and political support to the Kashmiri people” until they realize their right to self-determination.
He also implored young Pakistanis to remember ‘Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah had termed Kashmir as Pakistan’s jugular vein.