Pakistan, separatist leaders observe Kashmir Solidarity Day

Several events were planned for the day to express solidarity with the people of Kashmir.

Activists of the Jamaat-ud-Dawa march along a street during a week-long of solidarity demonstrations with Kashmir and its people ahead of Kashmir Solidarity Day, in Karachi on February 3, 2019. - Kashmir Solidarity Day is marked as a national holiday on 5th February. (Photo by RIZWAN TABASSUM / AFP)

Islamabad: Pakistan and separatist leaders on Tuesday observed Kashmir Solidarity Day, extending their support to the people in the Valley Pakistan President Arif Alvi in his address in the Legislative Assembly in Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir asked the Indian government to uphold the rights of the Kashmiri people. He reiterated Pakistan's "unflinching solidarity" with the people of  Kashmir, Radio Pakistan reported. "We reassure our Kashmiri brothers and sisters that we will remain consistent in our principled position on Kashmir. The entire Pakistani nation stands with its Kashmiri brethren in their valiant struggle to achieve the legitimate right to self-determination." Prime Minister Imran Khan criticised India for its alleged atrocities in Kashmir. He said seven decades have passed and the issue of Jammu and Kashmir remains unresolved. Separately, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who is in London, in his message said "the Government and the people of Pakistan re-affirm our unflinching support to the brave people" of Kashmir.

Westminster on #KashmirSolidarityDay: Proud to recall how Benazir Bhutto championed the Kashmir cause. Today all parties do the same. No military solution to this conflict and talks between nuclear India and Pakistan must be sustained and inclusive of the aspirations of Kashmiris pic.twitter.com/2M66h9wxL6

— SenatorSherryRehman (@sherryrehman) February 5, 2019

He said Pakistan was committed to finding a just and peaceful resolution to this long standing dispute. Several events were planned for the day to express solidarity with the people of Kashmir. Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, also made political and tendentious statements by thanking Pakistan for supporting the Kashmir cause and blamed the Indian security forces for pushing Kashmiri youth into taking up arms for resistance.

یوم یکجہتی کشمیر کے موقعہ پر کشمیری عوام پاکستان کا تحریک آزادی کشمیر کے تئیں ان کی بےلوث اور مسلسل حمایت کا شکریہ ادا کرتے ہیں اور پوری کشمیری قوم اس عظم کا اعادہ کرتی کہ حق خودارادیت کے حصول تک اپنی مبنی بر حق جدوجہد جاری رکھے گیں #KashmirSolidarityDay pic.twitter.com/eV1vibuQI6

— Mirwaiz Umar Farooq (@MirwaizKashmir) February 5, 2019

India says Kashmir is its integral part and Pakistan has no business to interfere in the internal affairs of the country. (With additional information from PTI)