Kashmir and Punjab’s Evolving Role

Qudrat Ullah

While the core issue of Kashmir has shaped Pakistan’s foreign policy since 1947, recent years have witnessed provincial governments taking a more proactive role in sustaining national and international attention on the issue. Among them, Punjab, which is Pakistan’s most populous and important province, has emerged as a particularly important player under the leadership of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif. By integrating advocacy, humanitarian initiatives and public diplomacy, the Punjab government has strengthened Pakistan’s longstanding commitment to the Kashmiri people and projected a principled message on the global stage.
Punjab’s approach has gone far beyond ceremonial expressions of solidarity. The Punjab government has actively supported awareness campaigns and institutional initiatives designed to embed Kashmir discourse within educational, cultural and civic spaces. Educational institutions have hosted seminars that highlight Kashmir’s legal status, the relevance of United Nations Security Council resolutions and the humanitarian dimensions of the conflict. By promoting informed dialogue, the Punjab government ensures that public understanding is grounded in international law, human rights norms and democratic principles rather than transient slogans.
A central pillar of Punjab’s strategy has been youth engagement and civil society participation. Recognizing that tomorrow’s leaders and opinion-makers shape foreign policy narratives, the provincial government has encouraged forums and media initiatives that present Kashmir issue as a legitimate international concern. Cultural diplomacy and media outreach have been leveraged to align Pakistan’s domestic advocacy with global human rights discourse, thereby supporting the federal government’s diplomatic and strategic objectives. In doing so, Punjab acts as a force multiplier, reinforcing Pakistan’s foreign policy posture and complementing its ongoing international advocacy.
Equally significant is the province’s commitment to humanitarian solidarity. Punjab has provided educational facilitation, welfare assistance and institutional support to Kashmiri students and families affected by decades of conflict. By translating diplomatic principles into tangible assistance, Punjab reinforced the human dimension of Pakistan’s Kashmir policy. This approach underscores that Pakistan’s support extends beyond rhetoric and formal diplomacy to include measures that address human suffering and empower affected communities.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has consistently framed Kashmir as a moral responsibility anchored in democratic values, lawful advocacy and peaceful engagement. Her government’s initiatives, emphasizing youth participation and media diplomacy, reinforce Pakistan’s foreign policy narrative that Kashmir is not only a regional dispute but a question of international legal and humanitarian concern. By highlighting suffering, political disenfranchisement and state-sponsored restrictions on civil liberties, Punjab strengthens Pakistan’s case in international forums and bolsters efforts to secure global attention and accountability.
Punjab’s proactive stance complements Pakistan’s national foreign policy, which has been unwavering since 1947. Pakistan has continuously raised Kashmir at the United Nations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and other multilateral platforms, demanding the implementation of resolutions affirming the Kashmiris right to self-determination. By combining provincial advocacy with federal diplomacy, Pakistan has ensured that the Kashmir issue remains central to regional security discourse, emphasizing that sustainable peace cannot be achieved without justice, compliance with international law and respect for human rights.
Kashmir Solidarity Day, observed annually on Feb 5, underscores the continued urgency of Pakistan’s position. It serves as a reminder to the global community that commitments made to the Kashmiri people remain unfulfilled and that decades of inaction have only deepened grievances and instability. In a world increasingly governed by the principles of human rights and rules-based order, selective application of international norms undermines credibility. Pakistan’s diplomatic messaging, now amplified by Punjab’s initiatives, calls for consistency, accountability and peaceful resolution.
The prolonged denial of freedom to Kashmiris has consequences not only for the region but for the credibility of international institutions. Pakistan has consistently emphasized peaceful resolution through dialogue, negotiation and adherence to United Nations resolutions. This approach has endured since the country’s founding, demonstrating that Pakistan’s policy is principled, lawful and aligned with global norms. By reinforcing this stance through provincial advocacy, Pakistan strengthens both its domestic legitimacy and its international diplomatic influence.
Punjab’s evolving role illustrates how sub-national governments can meaningfully support national foreign policy objectives without overstepping constitutional boundaries. Through awareness programs, humanitarian assistance and engagement with civil society, the province ensure that Kashmir remains a pressing concern in public discourse and international diplomacy alike. Its initiatives act as a bridge between grassroots solidarity and strategic advocacy, reinforcing Pakistan’s credibility in bilateral and multilateral negotiations.
Kashmir Solidarity Day-2026, therefore, is not a mere ceremonial observance. It embodies Pakistan’s unbroken commitment since 1947, underscores the legal and moral imperatives underpinning the Kashmir issue, and demonstrates the active contribution of provincial leadership in amplifying the nation’s foreign policy objectives. Until the people of Indian-occupied Kashmir are granted the opportunity to freely determine their future in accordance with international law, the core issue of Kashmir will remain unresolved and the promise of sustainable peace in South Asia incomplete.
(The writer is a Lahore-based public policy analyst and can be reached at [email protected])