MUZAFFARABAD: The Legislative Assembly of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on Thursday warned India it could neither crush the popular freedom struggle nor raise any “constitutional” set up in India-held Kashmir on the surmise of “military might” and advised her to find a peacefully negotiated settlement of the lingering dispute as enshrined in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.

It also assured the besieg­ed leadership and people of held Kashmir that the liberated territory stood by them in this most difficult phase of their freedom movement, with full conviction.

“We will not leave you alone in any way. We will live and die along with you,” vowed the house through a unanimously approved resolution, tabled by Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider reportedly in consultation with members from both sides of the divide.

Condemning abrogation of the Constitution of held Kashmir as well as extension of the jurisdiction of India’s Constitution to the disputed territory, the AJK legislature observed that Articles 370 and 35-A of the Indian Constitution were amended and repealed, respectively, to reduce the majority of Muslims, due to which India had always been reluctant to hold a UN sponsored plebiscite.

Bifurcation of the state into two Indian Union territories — Jammu and Kashmir with legislature and Ladakh without legislature — was a direct attack on its integrity and fundamental and democratic rights of its inhabitants, the house maintained.

Expressing serious concern at the massive deployment of troops in the Occupied Valley and other draconian measures put in place there, the house called upon the international community to restrain India from pursuing her jingoistic designs.

It asked Pakistan to play an effective role, as a responsible country and an important party to the dispute, following the situation created by Indian move.

Pakistan should exploit all possible means to involve the international community in lifting curbs on civil liberties in held Kashmir and rescuing Kashmiri people from the savagery of Indian troops, the house stressed.

It particularly expressed uneasiness over the deteriorating health condition of Kashmiri detainees, specifically those lodged in Delhi’s infamous Tihar Jail, and asked the UN Human Rights Commissioner to raise voice for their release.

Indian ceasefire violations across the ceasefire line were also condemned and bravery and resilience of the people living there appreciated by the house, which did not forget to pay tributes to the armed forces of Pakistan for giving befitting response to Indian aggression.

Published in Dawn, August 9th, 2019