Gilgit-Baltistan borders China, Afghanistan and Kashmir (image credit: Al Jazeera)
Every year on July 19, Kashmiris around the globe solemnly observe “Accession to Pakistan Day,” not just to commemorate a historic political resolution, but to reaffirm their unwavering commitment to the cause of self-determination. This day marks a profound declaration made in 1947 by the genuine representatives of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, who unanimously resolved to join Pakistan—a decision rooted in cultural, religious, geographical, and economic alignment with the soon-to-be created Muslim-majority state.
Held at the Srinagar residence of Sardar Muhammad Ibrahim Khan under the banner of the All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference, the July 19 resolution came nearly a month before the formal partition of British India. In this resolution, Kashmir’s leadership clearly articulated their will to accede to Pakistan, citing an overwhelming Muslim majority population (nearly 80%), shared cultural values, economic interdependence, and the natural flow of rivers connecting Kashmir to Pakistan.
The Partition Plan of 1947 envisaged that the princely states would join either India or Pakistan based on contiguity and the will of the people. Jammu and Kashmir, being a Muslim-majority state contiguous with Pakistan, was a natural candidate for accession to Pakistan. However, history took a tragic detour when Indian forces entered Kashmir under the pretext of an instrument of accession signed under duress—setting the stage for an unresolved conflict that continues to define South Asia’s security calculus.
What makes the July 19 resolution especially significant is that it was an expression of the popular political will, made prior to the formal division of the subcontinent. It refutes the narrative that Kashmir’s connection to Pakistan is a post-partition development or a reactionary stance. Instead, it underscores a proactive political choice rooted in identity, belief, and belonging.
In the aftermath of the first India-Pakistan war over Kashmir in 1947-48, the matter was taken to the United Nations. The UN Security Council passed multiple resolutions—most notably Resolutions 47, 51, 80, 96, 98, 122, and 126—asserting that the future of Jammu and Kashmir must be determined by a free and impartial plebiscite under UN supervision. India’s leaders at the time accepted this framework. Yet, seven decades later, these resolutions remain unimplemented, making the Kashmir dispute one of the longest unresolved conflicts on the UN’s agenda.
The Modi-led Indian government has only deepened the crisis by unilaterally abrogating Articles 370 and 35A in August 2019, stripping Jammu and Kashmir of its semi-autonomous status. More dangerously, it has embarked on a demographic transformation plan—settling non-Kashmiris in the valley to change its Muslim-majority character. These moves are seen not just as administrative changes but as deliberate attempts to undermine the original spirit of accession and permanently alter the political landscape.
Despite decades of military occupation, brutal repression, and attempts to suppress their identity, the people of Jammu and Kashmir have consistently expressed their emotional and political affinity with Pakistan. July 19 remains a symbolic reaffirmation of that bond. Across Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Pakistan, and the Kashmiri diaspora worldwide, the day is marked with rallies, seminars, and digital campaigns.
From his prison cell in New Delhi’s Tihar Jail, Nayeem Ahmad Khan of the Jammu and Kashmir National Front (JKNF) sent out a message reaffirming that the July 19 resolution was a clear indication of Kashmiris’ unconditional love and commitment to Pakistan. He warned that India’s continued policies of deceit, expansionism, and distortion of history have pushed the region into a cycle of unrest and instability. Indeed, this isn’t just a struggle over territory—it’s a moral battle about the right of a people to determine their own future, free from foreign imposition, military occupation, and demographic engineering.
The silence of the international community, particularly the UN, remains a glaring failure. Decades after promising the people of Kashmir a plebiscite, the world continues to look away. Human rights violations, demographic manipulation, internet shutdowns, and silencing of dissent have become the norm in Indian-occupied Kashmir. Yet, global powers continue to prioritize strategic and economic partnerships with India over justice and human dignity.
Pakistan’s principled stand remains consistent: that the final status of Jammu and Kashmir must be decided in accordance with the wishes of the people and the UN resolutions. It is not just a legal requirement, but a moral imperative that should compel action from those who claim to uphold human rights and international law.
July 19 is not a day of nostalgia; it is a day of resolve. It reminds the world that the people of Kashmir made their choice long ago—to accede to Pakistan. Their resistance, sacrifices, and aspirations continue to echo that decision. Until the international community fulfills its obligation and ensures the implementation of UN resolutions, Kashmir will remain a bleeding wound on the conscience of the world.
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