5th Jan Self-Determination DayEvents
Webinar Marks Kashmir Right to Self-Determination Day with Calls for UN Action and Plebiscite
On January 5, 2026, as the world observed Kashmir’s Right to Self-Determination Day, commemorating the United Nations resolution of 1949 affirming the Kashmiri people’s right to a free and impartial plebiscite, a virtual webinar organized by Kashmir Media Service and Friends of Kashmir International rallied prominent voices in Pakistan to demand justice for the disputed region.
Hosted by M Haroon Abbas Qamar with co-host Tayyaba Khurshid, the Zoom event featured Rana Muhammad Qasim Noon, Chairman of the Parliamentary Kashmir Committee, who labeled Kashmir a nuclear flashpoint involving India, Pakistan, and China, impacting a quarter of humanity and fueling poverty and unrest. He strongly condemned India’s actions, including human rights abuses, draconian laws, extrajudicial killings, and the imprisonment of Hurriyat leaders like Yasin Malik, whom he dubbed the “Nelson Mandela of Kashmir.” Noon called for meaningful dialogue and expressed confidence that Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir would eventually join Pakistan.
Senator Dr. Zarqa Suharwardy Taimur praised Noon’s dynamic leadership in revitalizing the committee and highlighted a dangerous post-2019 shift, with demographic engineering through domicile policies pushing Kashmir toward the final stage of genocide, as per expert models. She raised alarms over violations of the Indus Waters Treaty and the need to educate Pakistan’s youth about the issue. Taimur thanked Pakistan for its unwavering support, likening it to solidarity with Palestine, and announced plans to engage students in upcoming Kashmir Day events.
Ghazala Habib, Chairperson of Friends of Kashmir International, urged a transition from discussions to action, including direct engagements with foreign delegations and stronger parliamentary diplomacy, while stressing Kashmiri self-reliance with Azad Kashmir as a base for freedom.
APHC leader Abdul Hameed Lone, insisted the Kashmiri struggle is legitimate, not terrorism, and drew parallels with Palestine, calling for UN intervention.
The webinar wrapped with commitments to diaspora involvement and future initiatives, reinforcing Pakistan’s moral and diplomatic backing for Kashmiris amid global observances marked by rallies and renewed pleas for UN promises to be honored.
