Summary The cabinet said the top leadership's proactive role had enhanced the country's global stature and was a source of pride for the people of Pakistan and AJK
MUZAFFARABAD (Dunya News) - The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister AJK, Faisal Mumtaz Rathore, adopted a unanimous resolution on Thursday paying tribute to Pakistan’s military and political leadership for their unprecedented role to promote peace in middle East.
The cabinet commended President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir for their diplomatic efforts, noting that Pakistan’s role as a peacemaker, including hosting key engagements between United States and Iranian leaders had been widely appreciated.
Describing it as a major diplomatic achievement, the cabinet said the top leadership's proactive role had enhanced the country's global stature and was a source of pride for the people of Pakistan and AJK.
Through another resolution, the cabinet termed last year’s Pahalgam incident a “false flag operation,” saying that it was orchestrated by India to advance political and military objectives.
It expressed concern that the incident was part of a broader strategy aimed at justifying continued repression and military actions in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. The cabinet strongly condemned the ongoing human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and arbitrary arrests in the Indian held territory.
It said restrictions on freedom of expression and information blackouts were being used to suppress facts on the ground.
It maintained that such actions constituted violations of international law and fundamental human rights principles, and called for independent, impartial and transparent international investigations into alleged incidents, including Pahalgam.
The cabinet urged the international community, particularly the United Nations (UN), to take notice of the situation and to play a role in ensuring the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination in accordance with UN resolutions.
Reaffirming its stance, the cabinet said the Kashmir dispute remained an internationally recognised issue that should be resolved through peaceful means and in line with relevant UN resolutions.
In separate resolutions, the cabinet condemned atrocities by Indian forces in the region and expressed concern over the re-arrest of Hurriyat leader Shabbir Ahmed Shah despite bail granted by the Indian Supreme Court. It also criticised the life imprisonment sentence awarded to Asiya Andrabi and her associates, terming it a “miscarriage of justice.”
The cabinet called for the immediate release of detained leaders, including Masarat Alam Bhat, Shabbir Ahmed Shah, Yasin Malik and Asiya Andrabi, as well as other prisoners held in various jails, including Tihar Jail. It further urged the United Nations to intensify efforts towards implementation of its resolutions on Kashmir to ensure lasting peace in South Asia.
