I RECENTLY went to Neelum valley in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. I started the journey from Muzaffarabad towards Neelam valley. Owing to poor condition of the road we travelled 170km during the day to reach Karen.

After an overnight stay, we reached Kel, a central place in the Neelum valley. We tried to move towards Taobat, Shoonter and Arang Kel, but could not do so because of pathetic road conditions.

Kel is unique in that area as it has mosques, a church and an Imam Bargah in a radius of just 500 metres. Arang Kel has a chairlift to facilitate visitors but it is not of the sort that we have in Murree or Ayubia. Arang Kel chairlift is just a precariously hanging cot.

Neelam valley is a heaven on earth because of its natural beauty but owing to non-availability of basic necessities it is not visited by tourists. It has only one cellular facility, making communication difficult. Although a land line system exists, it is in pathetic condition. Health facilities are poor. The only road is from Athmuqam to Kel first and then towards Shoontar and Taobat. Other roads are for Ratti Gali, upper Neelam, Jagran, etc.

Vehicles move in watercourses many times and, unfortunately, often fall in nullahs, causing casualties. Two months ago, a number of visiting boys and girls from Faisalabad lost their lives when the bridge in Jagran nullah where they were taking selfies collapsed.

The Neelam valley has another distinction. It is located on the banks of the river separating the two Kashmirs. The inhabitants of both regions who are related to each other and live just 100 feet away cannot meet because of the Line of Control (LoC) dividing them.

UN observers patrol along the LoC but they do not facilitate the divided families. I too belong to Azad Kashmir but cannot visit the other part of Kashmir. Why should there not be free movement on humanitarian grounds in divided parts of Kashmir?

The people of Neelam valley urge Imran Khan to ask the AJK administration to facilitate people of Neelam valley by repairing roads, especially from Athmuqam to Taobat and Shoontar.

Syed Muzammil Hussain

Islamabad

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2018