Islamabad: President Asif Ali Zardari emphasized Pakistan's unwavering support for the Kashmiri people in his message on Kashmir Solidarity Day, observed globally on February 5, 2026. The day marks Pakistan's commitment to the Kashmiri cause for self-determination, rooted in United Nations Security Council resolutions, and acknowledges the ongoing struggle since 1989.

According to Pakistan Peoples Party, President Zardari highlighted the serious concerns surrounding the situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). Since August 5, 2019, India has intensified efforts to consolidate its control through administrative changes, media suppression, and demographic shifts, actions that the president claims disempower the Kashmiri population.

President Zardari addressed the human rights violations by Indian forces, citing international reports that document arbitrary detentions, punitive house demolitions, and restrictions on digital freedoms. He condemned the profiling of mosques and religious committees as part of a broader pattern of religious persecution and intimidation under India's governance.

Furthermore, President Zardari referenced the military tensions initiated by India in May 2025, stressing that peace in South Asia hinges on resolving the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. He called on the international community to take concrete actions beyond expressions of concern, urging India to cease human rights abuses and grant Kashmiris the right to self-determination.

Reaffirming Pakistan's solidarity, President Zardari committed to supporting the Kashmiri people's aspirations for a future determined by a free and impartial plebiscite.