Islamabad, August 4, 2026: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering solidarity with the people of Jammu and Kashmir, stating that the country will continue to extend diplomatic, political and moral support to their cause and raise their voice at every regional and international forum.
In his message on the occasion of Youm-e-Istehsal, to be observed on August 5, the prime minister said Pakistan marked the day to remind the international community of India’s unilateral actions of August 5, 2019, which, according to Pakistan, sought to alter the internationally recognised disputed status of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) in violation of international law and the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.
The prime minister said that seven years after those measures, the legal status of Jammu and Kashmir remained unchanged and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people had not diminished. He alleged that the actions had instead resulted in increased repression, restrictions on fundamental freedoms and attempts to alter the demographic composition of the territory through legislative and administrative measures.
He also expressed concern over the continued detention and suppression of Kashmiri political leaders, restrictions on civil liberties and limitations on independent media in the region.
Prime Minister Shehbaz paid tribute to the resilience and determination of the Kashmiri people, saying their peaceful struggle for the right to self-determination continued to inspire people around the world and commanded the support of those who believed in justice, human dignity and the rule of international law.
Describing the Jammu and Kashmir dispute as the principal unresolved issue affecting peace and stability in South Asia, he said a lasting solution could not be achieved through unilateral actions or coercion but only through a peaceful settlement in accordance with the aspirations of the Kashmiri people and the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.
The prime minister urged the international community to move beyond expressions of concern and play a more active role in supporting a just and durable resolution of the dispute.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s longstanding position, he said the peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute remained a cornerstone of the country’s foreign policy.
Prime Minister Shehbaz also called on the international community to urge India to end what Pakistan describes as human rights violations in IIOJK, reverse the measures introduced since August 2019, repeal laws imposed in the territory and create an environment conducive to resolving the dispute through the exercise of the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.
