Kashmir Solidarity Day in Pakistan Date in the current year: February 5, 2024

Kashmir and Jammu was a princely state in the British Raj. In 1947, India and Pakistan gained independence from Great Britain as dominions and began a war over Kashmir and Jammu. This armed conflict is now known as the First Kashmir War.

Currently the region of Kashmir is divided between Pakistan (autonomous administrative territory of Azad Jammu and Kashmir) and India (the state of Jammu and Kashmir). Both Pakistan and India claim the entire territory of Jammu and Kashmir. There have been at least three wars over Kashmir and several protests and incidents. The Kashmir conflict has not been resolved yet and is probably not going to be resolved in the nearest future.

Kashmir Solidarity Day was first proposed by Qazi Hussain Ahmad in 1990. At the time, he was the emir (leader) of Jamaat-e-Islami, a right-wing Islamist political party. This holiday focuses on providing political and sympathetic support to the Kashmiri separatists who are struggling against the Indian occupation. Kashmir Day is also celebrated outside of Pakistan by the Kashmiri diaspora.