Sharif said Pakistan stood firmly with the people of Kashmir and reiterated that the Jammu and Kashmir dispute should be resolved “in accordance with the wishes of Kashmiris” and relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions. Calling Kashmir Pakistan’s “lifeline,” he said the issue formed the foundation of the country’s foreign policy and remained central to its diplomatic outreach.
The Pakistani prime minister framed his remarks as a message of solidarity, stating that Pakistan sought peace in the region but only “on the basis of justice and equality.” He drew parallels between Kashmir and Palestine, describing both as struggles for self-determination, and accused India of suppressing dissent in the region. Sharif also alleged that the Kashmir issue had regained international attention following the India-Pakistan military confrontation in May 2025, a claim New Delhi has consistently rejected.
Kashmir Solidarity Day, observed annually on February 5, saw rallies, seminars and demonstrations across Pakistan and PoK. State-run media reported a minute’s silence in memory of those who lost their lives in the conflict, while political and religious groups, including Jamaat-e-Islami, organised marches to reiterate support for Kashmiris. Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari also issued a statement reaffirming Islamabad’s moral, political and diplomatic backing for the cause.
India responded by reiterating its established position that Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh “were, are and will always remain integral parts of India.” New Delhi has repeatedly dismissed Pakistan’s references to UN resolutions as irrelevant, asserting that the matter is an internal issue following the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.
Sharif’s comments come against the backdrop of heightened tensions, including disputes over terrorism allegations, the Indus Waters Treaty, and the fallout from India’s military strikes on terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan in May 2025. Indian officials have accused Pakistan of using Kashmir rhetoric to divert attention from internal challenges, while Islamabad maintains that raising the issue is a diplomatic obligation.
Analysts say the renewed rhetoric is unlikely to alter ground realities but could harden positions ahead of future diplomatic engagements. With both countries entrenched in their stances, prospects for dialogue remain uncertain, and statements such as these risk further escalating an already volatile relationship.
