Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday sparked fresh controversy with India after stating that “Kashmir will become a part of Pakistan” while addressing lawmakers and supporters in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. His remarks came as Pakistan marked Kashmir Solidarity Day with rallies, demonstrations, and official events across the country.
Speaking before the POK Assembly, Sharif reaffirmed what he described as Pakistan’s “unwavering and principled support” for the Kashmiri people, reiterating Islamabad’s decades-old position on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. His speech drew loud applause from the audience, which included political leaders, civil society members, and activists.
“The resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir issue lies in implementing United Nations Security Council resolutions and respecting the will of the Kashmiri people,” Sharif said, repeating Pakistan’s established diplomatic narrative on the matter.
“I have come here on behalf of the Pakistani people and leadership to stand shoulder to shoulder with our brothers and sisters in Kashmir,” he added, emphasising what he called Pakistan’s moral and political responsibility toward the region.
“Kashmir Will Join Pakistan,” Says Shehbaz Sharif
In one of the most emphatic moments of his address, Sharif declared, “Kashmir will become a part of Pakistan,” a statement that is likely to further strain already fragile India-Pakistan relations.
Invoking Pakistan’s founding father Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Sharif recalled that Jinnah had once described Kashmir as Pakistan’s “jugular vein.” He asserted that this belief continues to shape Pakistan’s foreign policy approach.
“That principle remains the cornerstone of our foreign policy even today,” the prime minister said, underscoring what he portrayed as ideological continuity in Pakistan’s Kashmir policy.
While claiming that Pakistan seeks peace in South Asia, Sharif insisted that peace must be grounded in what he termed “equality and justice.”
“We want peace, but peace can only be achieved on the basis of equality and justice,” he stated, without offering specifics on how such a framework could be realised.
India Reiterates Its Stand on Kashmir
India has consistently rejected Pakistan’s claims over Jammu and Kashmir, maintaining that the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh “were, are, and shall forever remain” an integral part of India.
New Delhi has also repeatedly accused Islamabad of supporting cross-border terrorism and interfering in India’s internal affairs, allegations that Pakistan has denied.
Claims of Renewed Conflict and Terror Allegations
Sharif further claimed that the Kashmir issue had been diplomatically “reignited with full force” following a four-day military confrontation between India and Pakistan in May 2025.
He alleged that India was escalating unrest through indirect means. “India is now using proxies to intensify terrorism,” Sharif claimed during his address.
Such allegations have been frequently raised by Pakistan in the past and have been strongly rejected by India, which counters that Islamabad itself sponsors militant activity in the region.
Linking Kashmir With Palestine
In his speech, Sharif drew parallels between the situations in Kashmir and Palestine, describing both as struggles for justice and self-determination.
He mentioned several controversial figures associated with separatist and militant movements, including Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Yasin Malik, Syed Ali Geelani, and Burhan Wani. He also referred to women activists, journalists, and figures such as Asiya Andrabi.
As the prime minister named these individuals, the crowd responded with loud cheers and chants, reflecting strong emotional support among attendees.
Zardari Reaffirms Support for Kashmir
Separately, Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari issued a statement reiterating Islamabad’s “steadfast moral, diplomatic, and political support” for the Kashmiri people.
Zardari said Pakistan would continue to raise the Kashmir issue at international forums, reinforcing the government’s commitment to keeping the matter on the global agenda.
Nationwide Rallies and Observances Mark Kashmir Solidarity Day
Kashmir Solidarity Day was marked across Pakistan with protests, rallies, seminars, and public gatherings in major cities.
According to state-run Radio Pakistan, a one-minute silence was observed at 10 am nationwide in memory of those who lost their lives in the Kashmir conflict.
Large public rallies were held in several cities, where participants waved banners and placards expressing solidarity with Kashmir and reiterating Pakistan’s official stance on the issue.
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