Kashmir Solidarity Day, 5 February: Why Pakistan Marks It

Kashmir Solidarity Day, known in Urdu as Youm-e-Yakjehti-e-Kashmir, is observed in Pakistan every year on 5 February. The next one falls on Friday, February 5, 2027, 122 days from today. It is a public holiday, and the day is used to express support for the people of Kashmir. It was first observed in 1990, so 2027 is about 37 years since the first one.

Background

Jammu and Kashmir was a princely state at the time of partition in 1947. Its status has been disputed between Pakistan and India ever since, and the two countries have fought over it more than once. Today the former state is divided by the Line of Control: Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan are administered by Pakistan, and the larger part, including the Kashmir Valley, is administered by India. A small area is administered by China.

The United Nations Security Council passed resolutions on Kashmir in 1948 and 1949, including a call for a plebiscite. Pakistan’s official position is that the dispute should be settled according to those resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people. India’s position is that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India. The issue remains one of the main points of disagreement between the two countries.

How the day began

Kashmir Solidarity Day was first observed in February 1990, after unrest and an armed uprising began in Indian-administered Kashmir at the end of the 1980s. Political parties in Pakistan called for a day of solidarity, the government supported the call, and 5 February became an annual national observance. It has been on the list of public holidays for most years since.

Since 2019, when India ended the special constitutional status of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370, the day has received even more attention in Pakistan’s official calendar and media.

How it is observed

• Human chains: people join hands in long lines in cities and towns, and on the main routes into Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
• Rallies and walks: political parties, students and civil-society groups hold rallies and seminars.
• A minute’s silence: a minute’s silence is commonly observed in the morning to remember those who have died in the conflict.
• Official messages: the President and Prime Minister issue statements, and special sessions are sometimes held in the national and AJK legislative assemblies.
• Media: television and newspapers carry special coverage and documentaries.

In Azad Jammu and Kashmir itself, Muzaffarabad hosts some of the largest gatherings. Pakistani communities abroad, especially in the UK, often hold their own events and demonstrations.

Schools often hold assemblies with speeches, tableaux and drawing competitions on the theme of Kashmir in the days around 5 February, and universities organise seminars where academics discuss the history of the dispute and the UN resolutions.

A day off in early February

Kashmir Solidarity Day is the first public holiday of the year in Pakistan, coming after the long gap since 25 December. If 5 February falls on a Friday or Monday, many people get a three-day weekend; for schools it usually lands in the second half of the winter term.

You can check the Kashmir Day countdown for the days left, see every day off on the Pakistan holidays page, or read the full list in Pakistan public holidays in 2027.

Other dates linked to Kashmir

Besides 5 February, some other dates are marked in Pakistan and Azad Kashmir. 27 October is observed by many Kashmiris and in Pakistan as a black day, recalling the arrival of Indian troops in Srinagar in October 1947. 13 July is remembered as Kashmir Martyrs’ Day, for events in Srinagar in 1931. These are generally days of observance rather than national holidays.

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