View source for Kashmir Solidarity Day

{{short description|National holiday in Pakistan}}
{{For|the ongoing conflict|Kashmir conflict}}
{{Use Pakistani English|date=February 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Infobox holiday
|holiday_name  = Kashmir Solidarity Day
|type          = National holiday
|image         = Kashmir Solidarity Day-Islamabad.JPG
|imagesize     =
|caption       = Banner raised for Kashmir Solidarity Day in [[Islamabad]]
|official_name =
|nickname      =
|observedby    = Pakistan
|litcolor      =
|longtype      =
|significance  =
|begins        =
|ends          =
|date          = 5 February
|scheduling    = same day each year
|duration      = 1 day
|frequency     = Annual
|celebrations  =
|observances   =
|relatedto     = [[Kashmir conflict]]
|firsttime     = 1990
|startedby     = [[Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan]]
}}

'''Kashmir Solidarity Day''' ({{lang-ur|{{URDU|یوم یکجہتی کشمیر}}}}) or '''Kashmir Day''' is a [[Public holidays in Pakistan|national holiday]] observed in Pakistan on 5 February annually. It is observed to show Pakistan's support and unity with the people of Indian-administered [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]] and [[All Parties Hurriyat Conference|Kashmiri separatist]]s' efforts to secede from India, and to pay homage to the [[Kashmiris]] who have died in the [[Kashmir insurgency|conflict]].<ref name="Hindu 2007">
{{cite news |title=Pakistan to observe Kashmir Solidarity Day today |url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/02/05/stories/2007020503731300.htm |work=The Hindu |date=5 February 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081001184921/http://www.hindu.com/2007/02/05/stories/2007020503731300.htm |archive-date=1 October 2008 |url-status=dead }}
</ref><ref>
{{cite news |title=Kashmir Day being observed today |url=http://www.thenews.com.pk/updates.asp?id=36715 |work=The News International |date=5 February 2008}}
</ref> Solidarity rallies are held in the Pakistani-administered territory of [[Azad Jammu and Kashmir]],<ref name="Dawn 2021">
{{cite news | title=Pakistan expresses 'unshakable' support for Kashmiris on Solidarity Day | newspaper=Dawn | date=2021-02-05 | url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1605609}}
</ref>
Pakistan and by [[British Mirpuri|Mirpuri Kashmiris]] in the [[United Kingdom]].

Kashmir Day was first proposed by [[Qazi Hussain Ahmad]] of the [[Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan]] in 1990,<ref name="The News 2018"/> and supported by [[Nawaz Sharif]].<ref name=Henne/> The current commemoration was started by the Pakistani minister for [[Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan|Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas]] in 2004.<ref>[https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/184157-What-does-Kashmir-Solidarity-Day-mean What does Kashmir Solidarity Day mean?], The News International, 5 February 2017</ref>

== History ==
Kashmir Day was first proposed by [[Qazi Hussain Ahmad]] of the [[Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan]] in 1990.<ref name="The News 2018">{{Cite news |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/277511-karachi-stands-with-kashmir-in-solidarity |title=Karachi stands with Kashmir in solidarity |date=2018-02-06  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180211071649/https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/277511-karachi-stands-with-kashmir-in-solidarity |archive-date=11 February 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1991, the then-Prime Minister of Pakistan [[Nawaz Sharif]] called for a "Kashmir Solidarity Day Strike".<ref name=Henne>{{cite book |last1=Henne |first1=Peter |title=Islamic Politics, Muslim States, and Counterterrorism Tensions |date=2017 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=9781107143227 |page=89 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jdQoDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA89}}</ref> Sharif had come to power with the help of the Jamaat in the previous year, and the 1991 event was also a Jamaat affair.<ref>[https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6aaa842.html Information on Jamaat-i Islami or Jammat Islami, its activities, membership, policies, and connections to military groups, other sixes countries, terrorist groups, etc.], Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, via UNHCR, 1 June 1991.</ref>

The current 'Kashmir Solidarity Day' was started by the Pakistani minister for [[Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan|Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas]] in 2004.<ref>[https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/184157-What-does-Kashmir-Solidarity-Day-mean What does Kashmir Solidarity Day mean?], The News International, 5 February 2017</ref>

The 2007 event was organized by Jamaat-ud-dawa, the religious charity associated with the banned [[Islamist]] terrorist organization{{efn|{{Cite web |url=https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/1267/aq_sanctions_list |title=Sanctions List Materials &#124; United Nations Security Council  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190216040651/https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/1267/aq_sanctions_list |archive-date=16 February 2019}}}} [[Lashkar-e-Taiba]]. The solidarity rally was addressed by [[Hafiz Saeed]], the chief of Lashkar-e-Taiba.<ref name="Hindu 2007"/>

In 2021, the [[New York State Assembly]] passed a resolution calling on the Governor of New York to recognize the day as '''Kashmir American Day'''. According to the resolution, the day is meant to recognize New York's Kashmiri community and to "champion human rights including the freedom of religion".<ref name="Hindu New York">{{cite news |title=New York State Assembly resolution calls for recognition of Kashmir American Day |work=The Hindu |date=6 February 2021 |first=Sriram |last=Lakshman |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/new-york-state-assembly-resolution-calls-for-recognition-of-kashmir-american-day/article33770437.ece}}</ref><ref name="TI">{{cite news |title=New York Assembly passes Kashmir resolution; India calls out attempts to misrepresent J-K's rich mosaic |work=Tribune India |date=7 February 2021 |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/new-york-assembly-passes-kashmir-resolution-india-calls-out-attempts-to-misrepresent-j-ks-rich-mosaic-209120}}
</ref><ref name="Dawn New York">{{cite news |title=Pakistan hails New York Assembly resolution marking Feb 5 as 'Kashmir-American Day' |work=Dawn |date=6 February 2021 |first=Naveed |last=Siddiqui |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1605819}}</ref>

In 2022, the residents in several towns of Pakistan-administered Pakistan-occupied Kashmir called it a "Fraud Day", and criticised the government for poor infrastructure as compared to Indian-administered Kashmir.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCVCDfLog10|title=PoK Residents Condemn Pak's 'Kashmir Solidarity Day' - Calls It 'Fraud Day' |publisher=[[ITV Network (India)|NewsX]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bhaskar.com/international/news/pok-people-organized-fraud-day-to-oppose-pakistan-kashmir-solidarity-day-129377770.html|title= पाकिस्तान ने मनाया कश्मीर एकजुटता दिवस, विरोध में POK वालों ने आयोजित किया 'फ्रॉड डे'|date=7 February 2022|publisher=[[Dainik Bhaskar]]}}</ref>
Also in 2022, the Pakistani franchises of international companies such as Hyundai and Kia Motors, Suzuki Motors, Toyota, KFC, Pizza Hut, etc. issued advertisements in favour of Kashmiris 'right to freedom'. Their parent international companies apologised for the partisan nature of the acts and said that their names were used without authorisation.<ref>
Gautam Mukherjee, [https://www.firstpost.com/politics/hijab-hypocrisy-seeking-religious-concessions-for-women-in-secular-institutions-but-keeping-mum-on-access-to-mosques-10366891.html Hijab hypocrisy: Seeking religious concessions for women in secular institutions, but keeping mum on access to mosques], Firstpost, 11 February 2022.
</ref>

== See also ==
{{Observances in Kashmir, Jammu}}
* [[All Parties Hurriyat Conference]]
* [[Human rights abuses in Jammu and Kashmir]]

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{citation |author=Muhammad Raza Malik |url=http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-6-230372-The-Kashmir-Solidarity-Day |title=The Kashmir Solidarity Day |newspaper=The News International |date=4 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301130144/http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-6-230372-The-Kashmir-Solidarity-Day |archive-date=1 March 2014}}
*[http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2015/02/04/city/lahore/nation-to-observe-kashmir-day-today/ Nation to observe Kashmir Day today], Pakistan Today, 4 February 2015.

{{Kashmir conflict}}
{{Jammu and Kashmir freedom movement}}
{{Public holidays in Pakistan}}

[[Category:Kashmir conflict]]
[[Category:Public holidays in Pakistan]]
[[Category:Nawaz Sharif administration]]
[[Category:Pakistan-occupied Kashmir]]
[[Category:Culture of Jammu and Kashmir]]
[[Category:February observances]]