ISLAMABAD: The recent diplomatic developments highlight growinginternational acknowledgment of the longstanding Jammu and Kashmir dispute,as another Islamic nation has aligned its position with Pakistan’s stanceagainst India’s claims. Following Türkiye’s consistent support on theissue, Kazakhstan has now explicitly referenced the need for a peacefulresolution in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolutionsin its joint declaration with Pakistan. This comes amid India’s expressedconcerns over similar references in other bilateral statements,underscoring shifting global perceptions on the South Asian conflict.
In a significant diplomatic development, Kazakhstan has joined the list ofnations extending support to Pakistan’s position on the Jammu and Kashmirdispute, emphasizing the necessity of resolving it peacefully in line withrelevant United Nations Security Council resolutions. During the statevisit of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to Pakistan on February3-4, 2026, the two countries signed a Joint Declaration on EstablishingStrategic Partnership. The document explicitly states that a peacefulsettlement of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with UNSCresolutions is imperative for lasting peace in South Asia. This referencemarks a notable endorsement from a Central Asian state, following similarpositions by Türkiye and recent mentions in Pakistan-Poland engagements.
The joint declaration was formalized after high-level talks between PrimeMinister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and President Tokayev in Islamabad. Itelevates bilateral ties to a strategic partnership after a 23-year gapsince the last such high-level engagement at this level. The leadershighlighted shared commitments to sovereignty, territorial integrity, andinternational law principles. They stressed that pacific settlement ofoutstanding disputes, avoiding unilateral actions, is essential forregional stability and connectivity between Central and South Asia.
This development builds on Pakistan’s longstanding advocacy for the Kashmirissue at international forums. The UN Security Council has adopted multipleresolutions since 1948, calling for a plebiscite to determine the future ofJammu and Kashmir. Pakistan maintains that these resolutions remainunimplemented, with the dispute constituting an unfinished agenda ofpartition. India’s 2019 revocation of special status for the region hasbeen contested as unilateral, altering the disputed territory’s statuscontrary to international obligations.
The Kazakh endorsement follows Türkiye’s repeated backing of Pakistan onKashmir. Turkish leaders have raised the issue at the United NationsGeneral Assembly, calling for peaceful resolution based on UN resolutionsand expressing solidarity with the Kashmiri people. Türkiye has alsosupported Pakistan in multilateral settings, including the Organization ofIslamic Cooperation, amplifying calls for adherence to international law inthe region.
Adding context, India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar recentlyconveyed concerns to Poland’s Foreign Minister during bilateral talks. Thiswas in response to a Pakistan-Poland joint statement from October 2025 thatreferenced the Kashmir dispute and advocated peaceful solutions alignedwith the UN Charter and international law. Jaishankar emphasized zerotolerance for terrorism and urged partners not to contribute to instabilityin India’s neighborhood, reflecting New Delhi’s sensitivity to third-partyreferences on Kashmir.
The Kazakhstan-Pakistan declaration also covers broader cooperation areas,including political dialogue, security, defence, trade, economy, transport,logistics, education, science, culture, tourism, climate change, andmultilateral engagement. The two sides signed 37 memoranda of understandingto boost ties, targeting a bilateral trade increase to $1 billion. Thiscomprehensive framework underscores how support on Kashmir is embeddedwithin expanding strategic relations.
Analysts view this as part of Pakistan’s efforts to internationalize theKashmir issue amid perceived Indian intransigence on dialogue. Kazakhstan,a key player in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization where both nationsparticipate, brings a non-traditional ally’s voice to the discourse. Thereference to UN resolutions reaffirms the dispute’s internationalcharacter, countering India’s portrayal of it as a bilateral or internalmatter.
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The timing aligns with ongoing regional dynamics, where connectivityinitiatives like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor intersect withCentral Asian interests. Kazakhstan’s position could encourage othernations to reference the UN framework in engagements with Pakistan,potentially building diplomatic momentum for renewed focus on the issue.
Pakistan has welcomed the declaration as a historic milestone, with leadersexpressing confidence that it will foster peace, progress, and prosperity.The inclusion of Kashmir language signals broader acceptance among diverseIslamic and non-aligned states of the need for resolution per internationalmandates.
As South Asia grapples with tensions, such endorsements highlight theenduring relevance of UN resolutions in seeking a just and peaceful outcomefor the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Source:https://mofa.gov.pk/press-releases/joint-declaration-on-establishing-strategic-partnership-between-the-islamic-republic-of-pakistan-and-the-republic-of-kazakhstan
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