The pro-liberation leadership in occupied Jammu and Kashmir has expressed Kashmiris' gratitude to the Government and people of Pakistan for their consistent support to Kashmiris.
All Parties Hurriyat Conference Chairman, Syed Ali Shah Gilani, in a statement, said that the observance of the day signifies that hearts of Pakistanis and Kashmiris throb in unison.
Gilani was confident that India-Pakistan composite talks would lead to final settlement of Kashmir issue.
Kashmir solution, he added, would usher in an era of peace and prosperity in South Asia.
Pakistan on Thursday observed Kashmir Solidarity Day, a public holiday held each year since 1984 under government sponsorship. A number of pro-liberation organisations used the occasion to thank Pakistan for its stance.
"Pakistan is the only country that is and has been whole-heartedly supporting the legitimate and
principled struggle of Kashmiris," said Syed Ali Gilani.
Shabir Shah, who spent more than 20 years in Indian jails for espousing independence, expressed hope that Pakistan "will continue to support Kashmiris on humanitarian grounds. "We express gratitude to Pakistan for extending moral, political and diplomatic support to our genuine struggle," said Shah, who has been critical of the separatists' dialogue with India.
Various other political and religious groups hailed people of Pakistan for observing solidarity with Kashmiris.