MUZAFFARABAD: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) chapter of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) on Saturday endorsed the federal government’s response to India’s posture following the Pahalgam incident and called for the appointment of a deputy foreign minister or special diplomatic envoy for Kashmir to expose rights abuses in occupied Jammu and Kashmir at international forums.

The demand was raised at a press conference by Legislative Assembly Speaker, Chaudhry Latif Akbar, who said he was speaking as PPP’s former regional president.

He was flanked by cabinet members Sardar Javed Ayoub and Syed Bazil Naqvi and some other PPP leaders.

Mr Akbar said PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had reaffirmed the party’s consistent stance on safeguarding Pakistan’s territorial integrity which was a matter of pride for party workers.

Endorsing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s call for an impartial investigation into the Pahalgam incident, he accused India of avoiding scrutiny after its false propaganda had been challenged.

“History bears witness that India has consistently blamed Pakistan for self-engineered acts like false flag operations to serve specific strategic goals,” he said.

Drawing parallels between the Pulwama and Pahalgam incidents, he pointed out that the similarity in these events, combined with the Indian media’s disinformation campaign and the Modi government’s unilateral actions, left no doubt that the Pahalgam episode was also a premeditated and orchestrated operation.

In the aftermath of the Pahalgam incident alone, more than 50 homes were demolished, over 5,000 young men were detained, and nearly a dozen unarmed civilians were killed by Indian forces, he said.

Mr Akbar said all political parties in AJK had agreed, during a recent all-parties conference (APC) in Muzaffarabad, to stand united against any Indian aggression and alongside Pakistan’s armed forces.

“In line with the APC resolution, delegations comprising [AJK] political leaders will soon travel abroad to highlight Indian atrocities,” he said, adding that a separate delegation of women lawmakers from the AJK Legislative Assembly would also meet with parliamentarians and human rights organisations in various countries.

Condemning the statements of occupied Kashmir’s former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Mr Akbar said both the National Conference and the People’s Democratic Party were trying to maintain political relevance.

“In the recent elections, people voted against Modi’s policies. The Indian government failed to secure support for the repeal of Articles 370 and 35A,” he said and demanded the immediate release of all Kashmiri political prisoners and the withdrawal of fabricated cases against them.

Expressing his views, Mr Ayoub said the Modi government was pushing the region towards a clash of civilisations to fuel religious extremism, which posed a threat to global peace.

He asserted that religious harmony was a hallmark of Muslim rule in the subcontinent, during which Hindus enjoyed safety and freedom.

“India exploited the Pahalgam incident through false media narratives — people declared dead were later found alive, exposing the fabrication.

Even members of the Indian Parliament and responsible media outlets have raised concerns,” he added.

Mr Naqvi paid tribute to Chief of Army Staff Gen Syed Asim Munir for his “resolute response” to Indian aggression, saying it had united the nation.

“The people of Kashmir stand firmly with Pakistan, its armed forces and its people. Should India resort to any misadventure, the liberated territory will become a graveyard for its forces,” he warned.

The PPP leaders also pledged, in connection with World Press Freedom Day, to support legislation in the AJK Assembly for a Right to Information law and greater protection for journalists.

Published in Dawn, May 4th, 2025