On 19^th July 2025, Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control and around the world observed Accession to Pakistan Day. This day holds a significant historic importance. On this day, every year, Pakistanis and Kashmiris reaffirm their stanch pledge to support the ongoing freedom struggle in Kashmir from clutches of Indian occupation. They also reiterate the promise of complete integration of Jammu and Kashmir into Pakistan.

On 19 July 1947, Kashmir’s Muslim Conference unanimously resolved to accede to Pakistan, reflecting the majority’s will.

Pakistan’s leadership including Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and COAS Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir have paid rich tributes to the valor of Kashmiris in their struggle for the right to self-determination. The AJK President and Prime Minister also expressed their commitment for Kashmir cause in special messages on the occasion of Kashmir’s Accession to Pakistan Day yesterday.

On 19^th July 1947, the largest political body representing true aspirations of millions of Kashmiris, All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference passed unanimous and the historic resolution of Kashmir’s accession to Pakistan. The conference meeting was held at the residence of Sardar Muhammad Ibrahim Khan in the Aabi Guzar area of Srinagar.

The conference declared that the people of state of Jammu and Kashmir want to join Pakistan under June 1947’s partition plan where princely states were to choose if they want to be part of India or Pakistan. This decision was reflection of deep-rooted sentiments of millions of Kashmiris Muslims along with centuries old shared religious, economic, cultural ties and geographical proximity.

It is a crucial aspect of current Kashmir issue that Kashmiris gave their verdict to be part of Pakistan almost a month before the creation of independent states of Pakistan and India. By This landmark decision came nearly a month before the establishment of the sovereign states of Pakistan and India under the British Partition Plan in August 1947. By any democratic principle this announcement reflected overwhelming majority decision and should had been respected.

The Kashmiri people in unequivocal terms announced their aspirations to join their future with Pakistan to safeguard their political, religious, and cultural identity. Kashmiris were aware of their fate under Hindus who had deep-seated animosity for Muslims in Jammu and Kashmir.

Maharaja Hari Singh’s accession to India in October 1947 violated democratic norms and triggered conflict.

What happened in October 1947 by Maharaja Hari Sign was not only betrayal to millions of local Kashmiris as they were denied the right to choose to join Pakistan as per their original aspirations but it was also a great betrayal to all global democratic norms and values where millions of people, an overwhelming population of Kashmir (more than 80%), had made their political intentions clear.

A controversial instrument of accession to India was signed on 26 October 1947, the day when Hari Singh had actually fled from Srinagar to safe his own life and had lost the control over the state. This fraudulent accession occurred amid preplanned Indian military intervention to occupy the state and it triggered Pakistani response resulting in first war over Kashmir between both states.

The decision was made by a Hindu Dogra prince was against the wishes of the Muslim majority. It violated the Partition Plan’s principles, which mandated accession based on demography and geography. Thus, 19 July symbolizes the people’s will versus the ruler’s coercion, framing India’s control as an illegal occupation. The dream of merging with Pakistan, rooted in the July 19, 1947 resolution, remains alive and strong among Kashmir and it is from 1947 that Kashmiris uphold their July 19 pledge with unmatched resilience.

The slogan of the revered pro-freedom leader, the martyred Syed Ali Gilani, “We are Pakistanis, Pakistan is ours”, has become the enduring identity of the Kashmiri people. India’s relentless oppression, he added, has failed to break the spirit of the Kashmiri people or diminish their love for Pakistan.

3^rd betrayal came after the 1948 war when UNSC passed resolution 47 recognizing Kashmir as international dispute between Pakistan and India and a plebiscite was accepted by India. India not only refused to recognize UNSC resolution and declared Kashmir its integral part and also refused to hold any plebiscite. Finally, UNSC too failed to implement its resolutions in Kashmir while it intervened in many other spots during last 78 years where similar issues were confronted to ensure conflicts can be avoided.

In this backdrop of this consistent betrayals, July 19^th 1947 Accession to Pakistan resolution is not just an historic event, it’s the foundation of Kashmiris’ relentless resistance against Indian coercion and oppression.

UNSC Resolution 47 recognized Kashmir as a dispute, but India refused plebiscite and violated the resolution.

Today, due to this failure of UNSC, Kashmir has become world’s most volatile nuclear flash point particularly after the May 2025 crisis triggered by the India’s unjust provocation and aggression against Pakistan under the pretext of Pahalgam terrorist attack. India, even after 2 months of Pahalgam incident, has failed to produce any shred of evidence about Pakistan’s involvement in this incident. This escalation, marked by unprecedented military actions, the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), and nuclear brinkmanship, demonstrates how regional tensions now threaten global stability.

Pakistan termed India’s suspension of the IWT an “act of war,” vowing to respond with the “complete spectrum of national power”, a veiled nuclear threat. The Kashmir conflict is no longer a regional dispute but a systemic risk due to three interlocking crises:

• Water scarcity as a weapon, undermining South Asia’s ecological security.
• Conventional-nuclear conflict with lowering of thresholds for WMD use.
• Great-power dependency, were de-escalation hinges on unpredictable U.S. engagement.

Kashmir and world peace are linked to this issue, which demands a just resolution of this long-standing issue in accordance with universal democratic norms and UNSC promises.

Kashmir is now a volatile nuclear flashpoint, worsened by India’s May 2025 provocations and the Indus Waters Treaty suspension.

Kashmiris must be given their right to self-determination and this day will continue to inspire Kashmiris’ fight for freedom and rightful alignment with Pakistan. This Accession to Pakistan spirit fuels the Kashmiris’ legitimate quest for right to self-determination. The day also reinforces Pakistan’s demand for the right to self-determination, a recurring theme in its UN petitions.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not represent the views, beliefs, or policies of the Stratheia.