India warned against LoC crossing by AJK people

Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister, Chaudhry Anwarul Haq, on Thursday warned India that if human rights violations and state terrorism in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IoJK) did not cease, people from his side might be compelled to cross the Line of Control (LoC).

"The whole world knows that the movement in occupied Jammu and Kashmir is for the right to self-determination and will continue until it reaches its logical conclusion," he said while addressing the inauguration ceremony of the 3.2-megawatt Cham Fall Hydropower Station in Jhelum Valley district, near the LoC.

He maintained that AJK was not just about its population or geographical area but served as the base camp for the Kashmir freedom movement, which defined its very purpose. 

Continuing, he said, unlike IoJK, where puppet chief ministers were installed, AJK was governed by representatives chosen by its people. 

"The governance system in Azad Kashmir owes its existence to the sacrifices of the mothers and sisters in occupied Kashmir."

"In Azad Kashmir, we enjoy civil liberties and facilities, which are possible because the people of Pakistan have shared their resources, sometimes at great personal cost, with their brothers in the liberated territory," he added.  

He invited international observers to visit AJK and challenged Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to allow the same for IoJK. 

"Let the world see the stark difference between the liberated and occupied parts of Jammu and Kashmir," he remarked.  

Expressing gratitude to Pakistan's political leadership and armed forces for supporting the Kashmiri people for more than seven decades, he regretted that “some blind to reason could not differentiate between protector forces and occupying forces." 

The AJK premier also criticized the Indian army chief and India’s defence minister for making derogatory remarks about him, calling it a clear sign of their frustration. 

On the development front, he announced that Jhelum Valley district would become self-sufficient in electricity by June, a highly encouraging milestone. 

However, he cautioned that if electricity bills were not paid on time, the Power Development Organization (PDO) would face setbacks.  

"Affordable electricity is the biggest source of employment. When the electricity needs are met, it will boost cottage industries and promote tourism in the region," he said.  

He also announced the allocation of Rs 200 million required for the timely commissioning of the nearbyNardajjian power project.  

Reiterating his government’s priorities, he vowed that the Kashmir freedom struggle and the development of AJK were at the top of his agenda.  

Without naming anyone, he took aim at certain "political showmen," and remarked that "small-time players” with their petty tricks could not halt the journey of development.  

He asserted that since assuming office, he had not indulged in clan-based favouritism or regional bias, unlike the past, where the entire budget of AJK was spent on a single constituency. 

"Now that mafias are being reined in, their screams are loud. But remember, everyone will have to go through the accountability process," he warned.  

The AJK premier also announced a one-month bonus salary for all workers involved in the PDO project.

Tariq Naqash