Islamabad: Pakistan observed Kashmir Solidarity Day on February 5, reaffirming its support for the people of Jammu and Kashmir and drawing attention to the unresolved status of the Kashmir dispute. The day was marked by public events, official statements, and parliamentary actions, including resolutions adopted by the country's legislatures.
According to Free and Fair Election Network, the origins of Kashmir Solidarity Day trace back to parliamentary proceedings in 1990, following the imposition of Governor's Rule in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. On February 5, 1990, Pakistan's 8th National Assembly initiated a three-day debate on the human rights situation in Kashmir. The government of then-Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto condemned the occupation of Jammu and Kashmir, expressing solidarity with the Kashmiri people.
Since 1993, Pakistan's Parliament has periodically established special committees to address the Kashmir issue. The first Parliamentary Kashmir Committee operated from 1993 to 1996 under Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan, with subsequent committees functioning under various chairpersons. The current Parliamentary Committee on Kashmir, constituted in April 2016, includes members from both the National Assembly and the Senate, ensuring cross-party representation and institutional continuity.
The committee, while advisory in nature, plays a significant role in keeping Parliament informed on developments related to the Kashmir issue. It engages with relevant government ministries and interacts with international stakeholders, although its effectiveness has varied over time, influenced by political priorities and parliamentary activity.
In recent actions, Pakistan's National Assembly adopted a resolution on February 5, 2025, reaffirming the country's stance on the Kashmir dispute. The Parliamentary Committee on Kashmir similarly passed a resolution on February 3, 2026, condemning alleged human rights violations in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Both resolutions reiterated Kashmir's status as an unresolved international dispute and called on the global community to support the Kashmiri people's right to self-determination in accordance with United Nations resolutions.