First Lady, Bibi Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, on Kashmir Solidarity Day, paid tribute to the resilience of Kashmiri women and youth living under occupation, reaffirming Pakistan’s solidarity with the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and their right to self-determination.
In her message, the first lady drew particular attention to the suffering and strength of Kashmiri women. She said women remain at the frontline of the occupying force’s war on fundamental rights. The mass graves of their families represent only one part of a much larger reality. The silence imposed on entire communities is enforced through premeditated violence and brutal assaults against the women of the occupied valley. Despite this, the women of IIOJK continue to stand firm as leaders at the forefront of what remains the longest resistance to the brute colonisation of a disputed region in the world.
The first lady expressed concern over persistent human rights violations in IIOJK, especially their impact on women and children. She noted that while women face intimidation and loss, children are growing up under conditions of prolonged hardship that continue to shape their lives.
Addressing the youth of Kashmir, Bibi Aseefa Bhutto Zardari acknowledged their central role in sustaining the freedom movement and urged them not to lose hope. She reaffirmed that the youth of Pakistan would continue to raise their voice internationally in support of their Kashmiri counterparts.
The first lady also recalled that the observance of 5 February as a national day of solidarity was initiated 36 years ago by her mother, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, and said that the people of Pakistan continue to stand firmly with the Kashmiri people in their just struggle.
Reiterating Pakistan’s moral, diplomatic and political support, she called upon the international community and the United Nations to honour their commitments and implement relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions. She stressed that durable peace in South Asia remains linked to a just and peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.