MUZAFFARABAD: Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore on Monday declared that the relationship between the people of Kashmir and Pakistan was anchored in a shared ideology, asserting that a “prosperous and stable Pakistan” remained the essential precursor to the liberation of the occupied territory.

He was addressing a large ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ rally at Rehra in Bagh district, attended by a sizeable crowd despite heavy rainfall, to mark the anniversary of Marka-i-Haq.

The premier used the occasion to reiterate the state’s alignment with Pakistan while also highlighting what he described as his government’s developmental “crusade”.

Reflecting on the events of May last year, Mr Rathore paid glowing tributes to the Pakistan Armed Forces. He said India had attempted to destabilise the region through a “conspiracy built on a narrative of lies”.

“Last May, the forces of falsehood were defeated by the forces of truth,” he told the cheering crowd. “In that critical hour, Pakistan created history by thwarting Indian designs, and today, Pakistan’s prestige stands higher than ever on the global diplomatic stage.”

He added that the sacrifices of martyrs and their families would remain an indelible part of the state’s history.

The visit was marked by an emotional milestone as the prime minister laid the foundation stone of the Chhatar Dhara Bridge, a project originally announced by his late father, former prime minister Mumtaz Hussain Rathore, in 1990.

Responding to critics, the AJK premier said that while the first seven months of any government were typically a “honeymoon period”, his administration had spent that time “restoring public faith in a broken system”.

The event also turned into a display of political unity, as it was addressed by former prime minister Sardar Tanveer Ilyas, former minister Sardar Qamar-uz-Zaman, his son and minister for communications Sardar Zia-ul-Qamar, and adviser Ahmed Saghir.

Earlier, during a vehicular rally from Bagh to Rehra, slogans in favour of the armed forces and the state’s accession to Pakistan dominated the atmosphere.

The prime minister noted that the warm reception he received, including being showered with petals in large quantities during a recent visit to Samahni, was a mandate for his “mission of service” stretching from Taobat to Bhimber.

Published in Dawn, May 12th, 2026