ISLAMABAD: Kashmiris across Pakistan observed the 78th Kashmir Accession to Pakistan Day (Youm-e-Ilhaq-e-Pakistan) on Sunday, commemorating the historic resolution passed by the All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference on July 19, 1947, which called for the princely state’s accession to Pakistan.
The day was marked with patriotic zeal across Pakistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), and among the Kashmiri diaspora, who renewed their commitment to the cause.
Cities and towns were adorned with Pakistani and Kashmiri flags, while political parties, civil society organisations, and student groups organised rallies, seminars, conferences, and public gatherings to reaffirm their support for the 1947 resolution and the implementation of UN resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir.
Pakistan President and PM vow to stand by Kashmiris
In separate messages, Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reiterated Pakistan’s steadfast support for the Kashmiri people and called on the international community and the United Nations to take a more active role in ensuring the implementation of UN resolutions on the dispute.
President Zardari stated that Pakistan had “consistently advocated a peaceful and just resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.”
“Pakistan has consistently advocated a peaceful and just resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people. We urge the international community, particularly the… pic.twitter.com/ficHa4SU6r
— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) July 19, 2026
“We urge the international community, particularly the United Nations, to fulfil its responsibility by supporting efforts aimed at ensuring the realisation of the Kashmiri people’s inalienable right to self-determination,” he added.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz described Youm-e-Ilhaq-e-Pakistan as a commemoration of the historic resolution adopted during the Srinagar session on July 19, 1947, calling it “a defining moment in the political history of the region.”
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif’s Message on the Occasion of Youm-e-Ilhaq-e-Pakistan (Kashmir’s Accession to Pakistan Day) 19 July 2026.
Youm-e-Ilhaq-e-Pakistan (Kashmir’s Accession to Pakistan Day) is observed annually to commemorate the historic resolution adopted by…
— Prime Minister’s Office (@PakPMO) July 18, 2026
A defining moment in Kashmir’s political history
The prime minister noted that the unanimously adopted resolution “reflected the collective political aspirations of the Muslims of Jammu and Kashmir” and expressed their desire for the state’s accession to Pakistan while calling upon the Dogra rulers to respect “the will of the people.”
“The resolution remains an important historical milestone in the political struggle of the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” PM Shehbaz said.
He added that the occasion served as “a reminder of the enduring bonds that unite the peoples of Pakistan and Jammu and Kashmir,” founded on “shared history, faith, culture, geography and longstanding ties.”
Pakistan’s commitment to peace and justice
Reaffirming Pakistan’s position on the dispute, the prime minister said the country remained “steadfast in its principled support for the inalienable right to self-determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, as enshrined in the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.”
He emphasised that the unresolved dispute continued to have “profound implications for regional peace and security.”
“Lasting peace in South Asia requires its peaceful resolution in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people,” he said.
Paying tribute to the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), PM Shehbaz said the government and people of Pakistan “salute the courage, resilience and steadfastness” of Kashmiris in what he described as their “just struggle for the realisation of their fundamental rights.”
He reiterated that Pakistan would continue to extend its “unwavering diplomatic, political and moral support” until the Kashmiri people were able to exercise their right to self-determination.
Kashmiris to continue struggle for implementing July 19 resolution: Speakershttps://t.co/9UDgXsACl3
— KashmirMedia Service (@kmskashmirnews) July 19, 2026
The historic resolution of July 19, 1947
The historic resolution was passed on July 19, 1947, when the genuine representatives of the Kashmiris unanimously voted for Kashmir’s accession to Pakistan during a meeting of the All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference at the residence of Sardar Muhammad Ibrahim Khan in Aabi Guzar, Srinagar.
The resolution called for accession based on religious, geographical, cultural, and economic proximity to Pakistan, as well as the aspirations of millions of Kashmiri Muslims.
This landmark decision came just weeks before the creation of Pakistan and India as sovereign states under the Partition Plan on August 14 and 15, 1947.
UN resolutions and India’s failure to deliver
According to the resolution, factors making accession to Pakistan inevitable included the Muslim-majority population (around 80 per cent), rivers flowing through Kashmir, shared language and culture, and the state’s longstanding relations with Pakistan.
UN Security Council resolutions No. 47, 51, 80, 96, 98, 122, and 126 declared that the fate of Jammu and Kashmir would be decided according to the wishes of the Kashmiri people through self-determination.
India had committed before the UN to grant self-determination to Kashmiris but later reneged on its promise. The Indian government further escalated tensions by revoking Articles 370 and 35A, which had granted special status to Kashmir.
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A day of unity, remembrance, and resolve
Kashmir Accession Day serves as a powerful reminder of the historical bonds between Pakistan and the people of Jammu and Kashmir. As rallies and gatherings took place across the country, the message was clear: Pakistan remains unwavering in its support for the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination, and the international community must uphold its commitments under UN resolutions.
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The day also drew attention to the ongoing struggle of Kashmiris under Indian occupation, who continue to face human rights violations and the denial of fundamental freedoms.
Pakistan’s leadership, political parties, and civil society have reiterated their commitment to standing with the Kashmiri people until they can determine their own future in accordance with their aspirations.
