MUZAFFARABAD: Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq on Sunday announced that his government would “redirect all available resources towards ousting Indian forces from occupied Kashmir.

The AJK prime minister said this while speaking at a rally held at Burhan Wani Chowk in Muzaffarabad to commemorate the United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan (UNCIP) resolution of January 5, 1949, envisaging “a free and impartial plebiscite to decide the question of accession of the State of Jammu and Kashmir to India or Pakistan”.

“We must steadfastly adhere to the position we adopted 76 years ago, as reflected in the January 5 resolution. However, while we have stood firm for over seven decades, during which many of our generations have passed away, it is no longer the time to merely stand firm — it is time to move forward with determination,” Mr Haq said.

Rally in Muzaffarabad commemorates UNCIP resolution of January 5, 1949

He added that Pakistan was the “elder brother of Kashmiris”, but it had its own international responsibilities and was not supposed to do the Kashmiris’ share of the work.

“If we have to trample the bloody Line [of Control], then this jihad (holy war) is binding first of all on the youth of Kashmir,” he said.

Asserting that development and progress could not substitute for freedom, he asked Kashmiris to overcome divisions and polarisation to achieve this right.

“We must put an end to our fragmented, self-serving agendas. This political exploitation is leading us toward destruction,” he cautioned.

The AJK premier declared that no formula for the division of Kashmir would be acceptable to any Kashmiri.

“On the basis of Kashmir’s entirety — not its parts — we will achieve the right to self-determination and fulfill the mission of Pakistan’s completion,” he said.

Anwarul Haq asserted that he had no issue if people disagreed with his words or if some advocated for an independent state.

“However, before that, all Kashmiris, regardless of their race, colour, religion, or politics, should unite on one fact: We must expel the one million oppressive Indian troops from occupied Jammu and Kashmir and achieve our right to self-determination,” he said.

Published in Dawn, January 6th, 2025