Pakistan Stirs Anti-India Rhetoric on Kashmir Solidarity Day: PM Shehbaz, Army Chief Aseem Munir Voice Support for Kashmiris

Islamabad: Pakistan marked Kashmir Solidarity Day on Thursday, February 5, with official statements and public events reiterating its long-standing stance on the Kashmir issue. On this occasion, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Aseem Munir once again made strong anti-India statements, expressing support for Kashmiri separatists and calling for international pressure on India regarding its policies in the region.

In an official statement, Pakistan’s military leadership—including Army Chief Munir, Navy Chief Naveed Ashraf, and Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Sidhu—declared solidarity with the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The statement emphasized that India should address the Kashmir issue promptly, framing it as a matter of urgency for regional stability.

Political Leadership Joins the Chorus

Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari also issued a statement highlighting Pakistan’s continued support for the Kashmiri struggle. Zardari noted that Kashmir Solidarity Day was first observed in 1989 by then-Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and continues to be commemorated annually as a demonstration of Pakistan’s backing for Kashmiris.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif targeted India directly, criticizing its policies in Jammu and Kashmir and urging the international community to exert pressure on New Delhi to resolve the dispute. Sharif’s remarks reflected Pakistan’s ongoing strategy of using diplomatic and public messaging to internationalize the Kashmir issue.

A History of Anti-India Statements

This year’s rhetoric follows a similar pattern. In January 2026, Pakistan observed what it called “Kashmir Self-Determination Day,” during which top officials including Zardari and Sharif repeated allegations against India and criticized its governance of Jammu and Kashmir. Sharif argued that the Kashmir dispute is a key source of tension between India and Pakistan and stressed that lasting peace in South Asia requires resolution in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolutions.

Pakistan’s annual observances—through speeches, statements, and symbolic events—continue to reinforce its political narrative and demonstrate a coordinated effort between its civilian leadership and military in advocating for Kashmir’s cause.