‘Kashmir Banay Ga Pakistan’: Army releases new song for Feb 5 solidarity

As the country unites to express solidarity with the people of India-held Kashmir, the military’s media wing has released a new anthem titled ‘Kashmir Banay Ga Pakistan’ to express support for Kashmiris’ resistance against Indian occupying forces.

Kashmir Solidarity Day, observed on Feb 5 every year, is a national holiday to express Pakistan’s support for the people of held Kashmir, Kashmiri separatists’ freedom movement, and to pay homage to innocent Kashmiris who have died in the conflict over the past seven decades.

This year, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) has released a new anthem to mark the day, conveying a strong message of unity and commitment to the freedom fighters of the troubled valley.

The anthem, featuring Ahmed Jahanzeb’s vocals, has been composed by Irfan Saleem and Kamran Khan with lyrics by Imran Raza.

It has been produced to mark the significant day and reinforce the sentiment of solidarity with the brave and resilient people of Kashmir, who continue to struggle for their right to self-determination as enshrined in the documents of the United Nations (UN).

The song opens with the late Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Geelani’s historic speech wherein he said, “Pakistan is ours, and we are Pakistan”. 

Check it out here:

Meanwhile, political leaders, armed forces and civil society are marking the day by paying homage to the decades-long struggle of Kashmiris, condemning human rights violations in the region.

President Asif Ali Zardari, in his message, reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering support for the Kashmiri people. “We reaffirm our steadfast commitment to the just struggle of the Kashmiri people," he said.

He condemned India’s continued repression in Kashmir, asserting that Indian actions could not suppress the spirit of self-determination among Kashmiris, and urged the UN to honour its 77-year-old commitments regarding the troubled valley.

Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif, in his statement, also declared self-determination a fundamental principle of international law.

"Every year, the government and people of Pakistan commemorate Kashmir Solidarity Day," PM Shehbaz said. He also denounced Indian atrocities, and condemned the unlawful detention of political activists and human rights defenders in Kashmir.

"India’s attempts aim to alter the demographic structure of occupied Kashmir," the premier said.

While the ISPR released a statement reaffirming the commitment of the armed forces to the just cause of Kashmiris, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (JCSC), service chiefs, and the armed forces also paid tribute to the resilience of Kashmiris, whom they said, had endured decades of oppression.