Each year, on 5 February, the international community is reminded that the Kashmir dispute—one of the most intractable and potentially explosive conflicts of the modern age—remains a cause that requires justice, resolution, and sustained international attention. In Pakistan, Kashmir Solidarity Day is not merely an event marked on a calendar but an occasion for introspection. It is a day to give voice to the millions who have lived under occupation, oppression, and the systematic denial of rights for over seven decades.
For the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), life today remains much as it has for many years: defined by fear, intimidation, and the pervasive presence of the military. Restrictions on freedom of movement, arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, and attempts to alter the demographic composition of the region are systematically eroding the very fabric of Kashmiri society. These actions are not random instances of abuse; they are matters of policy, justified in the name of security but exacting a devastating human cost on families.
Such a climate of exclusion and hostility is not, however, unique to Kashmir. Rather, it is symptomatic of a broader ideological trend sweeping across India’s socio-political landscape, driven in large part by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and its offshoots.
The RSS is a nationalist organisation that has long claimed to be the ideological wellspring of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). It promotes a form of Hindutva—a cultural and ideological paradigm that seeks to define the Indian nation primarily on the basis of Hindu identity. This ideology, if left unchecked, has been accused of fostering a culture of communal hierarchy and a latent fear of Muslim minorities in India. In recent years, this has manifested in legislative exclusion, social boycotts, and mob intimidation targeting Muslims. A case in point was the intimidation of a delivery worker at Ayodhya railway station, who was threatened and verbally abused by extremists simply for delivering meat.
Such acts of coercion are not random expressions of anger. They reflect an intolerant environment in which religious affiliation becomes grounds for harassment and exclusion. They are symptomatic of a deeper malaise. When majoritarian ideology permeates public life and institutions are slow to respond, intimidation becomes normalised.
To understand the political foundations of this environment, it is necessary to examine the role of the RSS. Founded in 1925, the RSS espouses the idea of India as a “Hindu nation”. While it claims to champion national unity, its ideological foundations tend to marginalise religious minorities—particularly Muslims—by privileging cultural uniformity over pluralism.
This ideological shift is significant because it influences not only political discourse but also social behaviour and policy decisions. When political leadership aligns, implicitly or explicitly, with majoritarian ideology, the consequences cascade downwards. Society becomes less secure in expressing diversity of belief, and dissenting voices are increasingly branded as outsiders.
Against this backdrop of oppression and exclusion, Pakistan’s position on Kashmir has remained consistent, clear, and firmly rooted in international law. Pakistan has repeatedly reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination, as enshrined in United Nations Security Council resolutions.
In official statements, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has underscored that the dispute over Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir remains central to South Asia’s stability. He has called upon the international community to honour its commitments and allow the people of Kashmir to freely determine their future—a fundamental principle of international law.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan has described India’s actions in IIOJK as “brute force” and “systematic human rights violations”, while condemning demographic engineering and the denial of civil liberties in the occupied territory. Pakistan has reiterated its call for India to fulfil its obligations under the UN Charter and to grant the people of Kashmir their rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression.
At the international level, Pakistan has consistently raised the plight of Kashmir in global forums such as the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the United Nations General Assembly. Alongside other member states, it has reaffirmed support for the inalienable right of the Kashmiri people to self-determination.
Kashmir Solidarity Day should amount to more than symbolic gestures or fleeting headlines. It should compel reflection on how the world responds to repression cloaked in ideology. Whether it is the militarised valleys of Kashmir or the streets of Indian cities where minorities face harassment, the struggle remains the same: a struggle for equal dignity, justice, and freedom from fear.
Pakistan’s firm stance, grounded in international legal principles, underscores a simple truth: the voices of the oppressed cannot be silenced, and human rights cannot be applied selectively. As members of the global community, our responsibility must transcend borders to uphold the universal values of justice and human dignity.
