Shehbaz Sharif’s Kashmir Gambit Backfires as Kashmiris Expose Pakistan’s Propaganda from London to Brussels

Islamabad / Europe: Pakistan’s annual observance of “Kashmir Solidarity Day” on 5 February, intended to bolster its narrative on Kashmir, has instead turned into an embarrassment for Islamabad. Across Europe, Kashmiri communities mobilized to expose Pakistan’s propaganda, highlighting decades of violence, oppression, and demographic manipulation in the region.

Protests Outside Pakistani Embassies
The largest demonstration took place outside the Pakistani Embassy in Bradford, UK, organized by the United Kashmir Peoples National Party (UKPNP). Protesters denounced Pakistan’s observance as a charade, chanting slogans such as “No Occupation, End State Terrorism.” They criticized the country for using symbolic gestures of sympathy while ignoring the real suffering of Kashmiris.

Participants pointed out that over the past 78 years, Pakistan-backed proxy wars and terrorism have claimed more than 100,000 Kashmiri lives. They condemned the “performative empathy” of the day as an insult to those enduring pain and loss.

Kashmiris Expose Pakistan’s Actions
Mahmood Ahmed, chairman of the Jammu Kashmir National Independence Alliance (JKNIA), told NDTV that Pakistan’s rhetoric disrespects those whose national identity and natural resources are being suppressed. Sardar Tikka Khan Tahir of UKPNP highlighted human rights violations in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, including forced settlement of non-local populations through fraudulent documentation.

From Solidarity to Exposure
Kashmiri leaders in Europe and the UK marked 5 February not as a “Solidarity Day” but as a “Day of Deception,” emphasizing Pakistan’s role in forcibly dividing the state and perpetuating conflict. Similar protests took place in Brussels, where the UKPNP Foreign Affairs Committee described the day as a display crafted for international optics. UKPNP President Jameel Maksud stressed that Kashmiris seek justice, dignity, and the right to determine their own future—not performative gestures of unity.

The demonstrations underscore growing Kashmiri activism abroad, challenging Pakistan’s narrative and highlighting the need for genuine international attention to the region’s ongoing humanitarian and political crisis.