Kashmir Solidarity Day is observed every year on 5 February, principally in Pakistan and by supporters of the Kashmiri cause worldwide to express political and symbolic support for people in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir and their right to self-determination, a principle referenced in United Nations Security Council resolutions dating back decades. 

The day was first proposed in 1990 by Qazi Hussain Ahmad of the Jamaat-e-Islami and later endorsed by Pakistan’s leadership. It became a regular national observance in Pakistan in the early 2000s. On 5 February, government institutions, civil society groups and political parties across Pakistan organise rallies, marches, solidarity walks, seminars, human chains and public ceremonies. A moment of silence is often observed in remembrance of those who have died in the long-running conflict. 

Official messages from Pakistani leaders typically reaffirm Pakistan’s support for the Kashmiri people’s struggle and call on the international community to honour UN resolutions on Kashmir. In recent years, speeches have also referenced political developments such as the revocation of Article 370 by the Indian government in August 2019, which removed Jammu and Kashmir’s special autonomous status. Critics of that change have described it as a unilateral move that worsened the human rights situation in the region. 

Kashmir Solidarity Day is a public holiday in Pakistan, with rallies taking place across the country including in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and in Pakistani communities abroad. Participants highlight alleged human rights abuses in Indian-controlled areas, such as detentions, restrictions on media and movement, and demographic concerns, and call for a peaceful resolution of the dispute in line with UN resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people. 

The broader Kashmir conflict dates back to 1947, when the former princely state became a flashpoint shortly after the partition of British India. India and Pakistan have fought multiple wars over the region, which remains divided by a Line of Control. Both countries administer parts of Kashmir but claim the territory in full, with competing political narratives shaping public commemorations like Kashmir Solidarity Day. 

Internationally, the day is also recognised by diaspora communities and some political bodies abroad, such as a 2021 resolution in the New York State Assembly calling on recognition of “Kashmir American Day.” 

Kashmir Solidarity Day continues to serve as a focal point for political messaging and public engagement on the Kashmir dispute, underlining how the issue remains central to regional diplomacy and collective identity for many Pakistanis and supporters of Kashmiri self-determination.