Every year on February 5, Pakistan observes Kashmir Solidarity Day (also called Kashmir Day) to express support for the people of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir and to reaffirm the call for their right to self-determination under relevant UN resolutions.
How and why this day began
Kashmir Solidarity Day began in 1990, first pushed by Jamaat-e-Islami leader Qazi Hussain Ahmad and later adopted as a national observance. Its timing matters. The Kashmir dispute has shaped South Asia since 1947, sparked wars, and stayed on global agendas through UN-level discussions and ceasefire frameworks.
How Pakistan commemorates February 5
The day is observed as a public holiday. The government also calls for a minute’s silence at 10:00am to remember those killed in the conflict. Across the country, events often include rallies, seminars, peace marches, and candlelight vigils. In many years, supporters also form human chains at key points linking Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, including the Kohala area. Mosques hold special prayers as well, reflecting the day’s emotional and national character.
The message Pakistan repeats to the world
The public messaging stays consistent: Kashmir Solidarity Day is framed as a reminder that the dispute should be settled in line with UN resolutions and the “wishes” of Kashmiris.
In one widely reported message on the day, Pakistan’s then-prime minister said:
“India must stop its brutal suppression of Kashmiris, adhere to its international human rights obligations, and honor the commitment to grant to Kashmiris their inalienable right to self-determination through a free and impartial plebiscite under the UN auspices.”
Why it still resonates now
The observance has also taken on added weight since August 5, 2019, when India revoked the region’s special status under Article 370, an event that continues to fuel political debate and protests.
For Pakistan, February 5 remains a symbolic day: a yearly push to keep Kashmir in public focus, and a statement of unity with Kashmiris who see their future as unresolved.
