PM Imran cautions AJK residents against crossing LoC to aid occupied Kashmir struggle

[MenInG]

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday once again advised the residents of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) against crossing the Line of Control to support the struggle of the people of Indian-occupied Kashmir, who have been under a crippling lockdown for over two months now.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I understand the anguish of the Kashmiris in AJK seeing their fellow Kashmiris in IOJK under an inhumane curfew for over 2 months. But any one crossing the LoC from AJK to provide humanitarian aid or support for Kashmiri struggle will play into the hands of the Indian narrative -</p>— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/1180341011660320768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">a narrative that tries to divert from the indigenous Kashmiris' struggle against brutal Indian Occupation by trying to label it as "Islamic terrorism" being driven by Pakistan. It will give India an excuse to increase violent oppression of Kashmiris in IOJK & attack across LoC</p>— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/1180341014269190144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2019</a></blockquote>
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[Gabbar Singh]

Genuine question - are people allowed to cross the loc in the other direction? Are residents of Kashmir on the Indian side allowed to move to/claim asylum when they get to Pakistan controlled Kashmir?

 

[cricketjoshila]

Genuine question - are people allowed to cross the loc in the other direction? Are residents of Kashmir on the Indian side allowed to move to/claim asylum when they get to Pakistan controlled Kashmir?

No. Its a de facto IB.

 

[Mesozoic]

Indian Army will not hesitate to open fire on anyone crossing the LoC. There will be severe loss of life if residents of POK indulge in any of these misadventures.

 

[MenInG]

MUZAFFARABAD: Thousands of people, mostly youngsters, took an overnight break in the town of Garhi Dupatta on Saturday evening after marching some 20km on foot through the Muzaffarabad-Srinagar Highway.

Earlier, they resumed their ‘freedom march’, under the aegis of the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), towards the restive Line of Control (LoC) from the state capital at about 11am, chanting pro-freedom and anti-India slogans.

The marchers had started their journey in vehicles and motorbikes from different parts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on Friday morning and had spent the night in Muzaffarabad after reaching here by or past midnight.

At about 10am on Saturday, they assembled at Upper Adda — a hub of political gatherings since long — from where they resumed their march towards Chakothi sector.

“Kashmir banega khudmukhtar (Kashmir will become an independent state),” was the frequently chanted slogan by the marchers, who were holding portraits of guerrilla leader Maqbool Butt, former JKLF chairman late Amanullah Khan and current chairman Yasin Malik.

“UN: Kashmir seeks your urgent attention,” read a large banner being held by the marchers in the front row.

“UN take over the control of entire state of Jammu and Kashmir to hold a plebiscite therein,” read some placards.

As the marchers walked through the Bank Road, rose petals were showered on them by trader leaders Shaukat Nawaz Mir and Abbas Qadri.

On Friday, two AJK ministers had also held a meeting with JKLF leaders, reiterating their appeal that the marchers should not go close to the LoC, let alone making an attempt to cross it.

In response, the JKLF leaders had assured the team that they would remain completely peaceful throughout the journey to the LoC.

Mohammad Rafiq Dar, central spokesperson for the JKLF, told Dawn that the UN Military Observers Group for India and Pakistan had also contacted them the other day to ascertain their stance.

“Apart from apprising the UN observers of the objectives of the peaceful march, we reiterated our organisation’s demand to the UN to send peacekeeping forces to take control of entire state and create an atmosphere conducive to a UN-sponsored referendum,” he said.

The UN was also reminded of its Resolution number 47, para 2 passed on April 21, 1948 which declared the LoC crossing a lawful activity, he said.

Mr Dar said the JKLF had also demanded of the UN to persuade India and Pakistan not to use force to quell this peaceful march.

On Saturday, the marchers were also angry at Prime Minister Imran Khan’s early morning tweet, wherein he had maintained that any attempt to cross the LoC would amount to playing into the hands of Indian narrative.

Read: PM Imran cautions AJK residents against crossing LoC to aid occupied Kashmir struggle

“We reject the notions of both countries; of India that we are holding this march at the behest of Pakistan, and of Pakistan that we are playing into the hands of India,” Mr Dar said.

“It is our own indigenous initiative and neither do we need certificates from nor are we agents of any of the two countries. We are the agents of our Kashmiri Nation,” he added.

Tahir Mahmood, a jeweller who had joined the march from Kotli, said PM Khan’s tweet was uncalled-for because the Kashmiris had taken this step “at the end of their tether”.

“First we waited for his speech to the UN General Assembly. And now more than a week after his speech is there any change in the situation across the LoC,” he said.

“And since there is no change, why he wants us to sit at home and watch killing and torture of our brethren silently.”

Sheharyar Ahmed, a second year student in Tetrinote village of Hajira sector, said PM Khan’s statement had hurt the Kashmiris.

“What the prime minister has done after his return from the UN? Does he want us to believe that mere speech can overthrow Indian occupation of Kashmir,” he questioned.

Meanwhile, heavy contingents of police had taken positions in Chinari to meet any eventuality.

At Jiskool, a spot located little ahead of Chinari and 8km before the LoC, containers were placed by the administration on the main road to block it for all kinds of vehicles.

Apart from the containers, electricity poles, mounds of earth and barbed wires were also spread on the sides of containers to prevent circumvention by the persons on foot.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1509255/chanting-anti-india-slogans-jklf-marchers-head-to-loc

 

[Bhaijaan]

As a responsible.member of the Asian bloc I respect this statement by PM Imran.

We must appreciate whenever sensible things are said and done by our leaders.

When he made irresponsible statements of nuclear war and bloodbath they were extremely irresponsible and he was rightly blasted for it.

But we must appreciate him when he dies something like this now to stay 100% fair.

Well done PM Niyazi

 

[blackanhyellow]

As a responsible.member of the Asian bloc I respect this statement by PM Imran.

We must appreciate whenever sensible things are said and done by our leaders.

When he made irresponsible statements of nuclear war and bloodbath they were extremely irresponsible and he was rightly blasted for it.

But we must appreciate him when he dies something like this now to stay 100% fair.

Well done PM Niyazi

Have you watched his whole speech? Or just snippets on arnab's show?

His whole speech was about avoiding conflict as war does not solve problems. War leads to more problems. His whole point of bringing up the nuclear war scenario is that, no one should want war that can lead to such disasters.

 

[MenInG]

Participants of the ‘peoples’ freedom march’ under the aegis of pro-independence Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) have reached near Jiskool, a spot where the administration and police have blocked Muzaffarabad-Srinagar highway by placing containers, barbed wires, electricity poles and mounds of earth, witnesses said.

“Hum le ke rahengay azadi (We will get freedom by all means),” they were heard chanting constantly, while waving flags of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and their party (JKLF).

Muhammad Rafiq Dar, central spokesperson for the JKLF, said the march was a peaceful programme aimed at expressing solidarity with the besieged Kashmiris and drawing the attention of the international community towards the urgent need of an immediate and peaceful settlement to the long pending [Kashmir] issue. He said that his group did not want to engage in any kind of confrontation with the local law enforcement personnel.

“We are not for any kind of confrontation or violence because that will serve the Indian purpose,” he told Dawn.

Dar urged the AJK administration to remove the containers so that the marchers could reach Chakothi, a village which is 3 kilometres before the Line of Control (LoC) but is overlooked by Indian gun positions atop lofty mountains across the divide.

“I hope they will allow us carry on our peaceful march to the town of Chakothi,” he said.

Earlier, the marchers had started their journey from Garhi Dupatta, located some 20 kilometres south of Muzaffarabad, at 10:30am, but on vehicles and motorcycles.

The caravan reached Hattian Bala, 40kms from Muzaffarbad, at about 12:15pm, where they were warmly welcomed by local residents.

“It was really a rousing welcome,” said Saleem Haroon, one of the JKLF leaders.

The caravan being welcomed in Hattian Bala. — Photo by author
A little before Hattian Bala, the caravan was joined by another rally that had started from Bagh via the famous hill resorts of Sudhan Galli and Chikar.

From Hattian Bala, the marchers once again started walking on foot and reached Chinari by 3:15pm.

Chinari is located around 50 kilometres from Muzaffarabad and some 11 kilometres before the LoC. There, the participants had taken a break for refreshments and Zuhr prayers.

Jiskool, close to where the caravan has currently stopped, is located around two kilometres ahead of Chinari.

Video clips shared by the participants on social media showed exemplary response of locals, who offered food, fresh fruits, juices and water to the marchers apart from showering rose petals on them.

While in Chinari, the JKLF central spokesperson had told Dawn that they would hold consultations for their next course of action.

“We know the road ahead is blocked. And the place where the containers have been laid is narrow with steep mountains and river [Jhelum] on the right and left, respectively [...] We don’t want even a single participant to suffer any harm there,” he said.

“We have to save our energies for [confrontation with] India.”

A gathering in the ground of Boys Degree College Chinari. — Photo by author
Dar had anticipated that by sunset the crowd would thin out, and the rest of the participants would stage a sit-in half a kilometre before the containers until the next move.

On the other side of the containers in Jiskool, Divisional Commissioner Chaudhry Imtiaz, Deputy Inspector General Police Sardar Ilyas Khan, Jhelum Valley Deputy Commissioner Imran Shaheen and Superintendent Police Arshad Naqvi were also present.

Leaders of the march had been invited by the administration for talks.

“We have already humbly informed the organisers that there is a serious threat of Indian shelling. The Indians would not only target the marchers but also the entire civilian population in this area, something they have never hesitated from in the past," Imtiaz told Dawn by telephone.

When asked if the marchers could be allowed up to Chakothi for a sit-in there, he said: “It is our primary responsibility to protect [the lives of] the marchers. The last point where we could allow them to reach is this [Jiskool]. Beyond this point is the firing range, therefore there is no question of allowing them,” he said.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1509323/j...akothi-village-near-loc-stopped-by-containers

 

[Wasim_Waqar]

As a Kashmiri person, JKLF are irrelevant both sides of LOC. Stay inside and let Imran khan and Pakistani government deal with the situation. Independence is a damn myth.

 

[PakLFC]

Either IK announce the next stage of action or let our Kashmiris do whatever they want. The people of AJK will not be seeking IK's permission if they decide to cross the LOC. Our PM's options have now been totally exhausted after his rant at the UN. Our Kashmiris will not be waiting forever for him to decide what he will be doing next whilst the people of IoK continue suffering. I don't understand IK's rubbish of Pak being labelled as supporting terrorism if our Kashmiris enter occupied Kashmir to help their long suffering brethren.

 

[blackanhyellow]

Either IK announce the next stage of action or let our Kashmiris do whatever they want. The people of AJK will not be seeking IK's permission if they decide to cross the LOC. Our PM's options have now been totally exhausted after his rant at the UN. Our Kashmiris will not be waiting forever for him to decide what he will be doing next whilst the people of IoK continue suffering. I don't understand IK's rubbish of Pak being labelled as supporting terrorism if our Kashmiris enter occupied Kashmir to help their long suffering brethren.

What will a 1000 civilians do? Will they recapture IOK?

No, they will get slaughtered before even reaching the LOC with indiscriminate Indian shelling. India will spin the stories saying they werent civilians they were terrorists that Pakistan was trying to send to IOK.

Even if the world believes that they were civilians, it will still not sway the world to do anything. If Palestinian civilians get slaughtered and bombed in hospitals and the world doesnt do anything, why will they do something for Kashmiris?

Pakistan has to play this smart, think long term strategy. Short term will only play into Indians hands.

Rather, let India lift the curfew. The protests will start automatically.

The IOK kashmiris have to take the lead on any future separatist movements. Pakistan can only offer moral and political support.

 

[PakLFC]

What will a 1000 civilians do? Will they recapture IOK?

No, they will get slaughtered before even reaching the LOC with indiscriminate Indian shelling. India will spin the stories saying they werent civilians they were terrorists that Pakistan was trying to send to IOK.

Even if the world believes that they were civilians, it will still not sway the world to do anything. If Palestinian civilians get slaughtered and bombed in hospitals and the world doesnt do anything, why will they do something for Kashmiris?

Pakistan has to play this smart, think long term strategy. Short term will only play into Indians hands.

Rather, let India lift the curfew. The protests will start automatically.

The IOK kashmiris have to take the lead on any future separatist movements. Pakistan can only offer moral and political support.

Pak Kashmiris firstly will help their brethren and put loads more pressure on India then IK's outbursts that have done nothing. If India attacks then the Pak military will get involved as well no doubt about it. That Pak is sending terrorists will no longer work when the whole world knows what is happening in IoK. After IK's speech at the UN this is naturally the next step now otherwise the killing won't stop.

Not asking for the UN to do something rather it is the responsibility of the Pak military to take some form of action, either we consider those in IoK as Pakistanis or we don't. If we can not help Kashmiris when they need us most then we have to stop this "Kashmir banega Pakistan" rubbish. The difference is that IoK neighbours in Pakistan a powerful military unlike the useless Arabs next door to the Palestinians.

Play it smart by watching innocents die is cowardice. India is under no pressure at all to end the curfew at all, we have to think outside the box here otherwise Kashmiris in IoK have every right to reject us as well. If Pak remains silent then the people of AJK may turn against as too.

 

[Bhaijaan]

Either IK announce the next stage of action or let our Kashmiris do whatever they want. The people of AJK will not be seeking IK's permission if they decide to cross the LOC. Our PM's options have now been totally exhausted after his rant at the UN. Our Kashmiris will not be waiting forever for him to decide what he will be doing next whilst the people of IoK continue suffering. I don't understand IK's rubbish of Pak being labelled as supporting terrorism if our Kashmiris enter occupied Kashmir to help their long suffering brethren.

Any act of infiltration will be seen as a terrorist act by GOI and you do realise POTROI has already given shoot to kill order to IA.

Please stay in PHK

I am.sayinf this because I am concerned for your safety.

Listen to Imran.

He is making sense this time.

 

[ReverseHit]

lol So the Islamist PM calls for jihad, then turns around and actually asks people to not cross the border. U-turn Khan much?

Orya Maqbool Jan must be livid - he's been saying Pakistanis from all provinces are dying to go across the border and wage jihad, and the government is holding them up. Please let them through

 

[MenInG]

lol So the Islamist PM calls for jihad, then turns around and actually asks people to not cross the border. U-turn Khan much?

Orya Maqbool Jan must be livid - he's been saying Pakistanis from all provinces are dying to go across the border and wage jihad, and the government is holding them up. Please let them through

Seems you are reading tweets from such excellent analysts like Virendar Sehwag etc - exactly when and where did he exhort people to lauch Jihad against India?

 

[PakLFC]

Any act of infiltration will be seen as a terrorist act by GOI and you do realise POTROI has already given shoot to kill order to IA.

Please stay in PHK

I am.sayinf this because I am concerned for your safety.

Listen to Imran.

He is making sense this time.

What you on about please stay in PHK? Look India is openly terrorising Kashmiris in IoK that the world is ignoring. If Pak crossing the LOC is terrorism then so be it. If the Indian army shoots the Pak army together with the Kashmiris will slaughter Indian soldiers too. IK has no idea of what to do now.

 

[MenInG]

Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider on Tuesday urged the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF)-led marchers to call off their march as the purpose of their programme had been greatly met.

The JKLF-led march had come to a halt some eight kilometres before the Line of Control (LoC) in Chakothi sector on Sunday due to the blockade of Muzaffarabad-Srinagar road at the hands of the administration.

Ever since then, the marchers had been staging a sit-in under large tents, erected on the main road before the blockade on Sunday night.

On Monday, JKLF leaders had renewed their appeal to the AJK government to remove the obstacles and allow the marchers to cross the ceasefire line (LoC) or else they would continue their sit-in at this place for “an indefinite period.”

As an alternative, the JKLF had demanded of the AJK government to bring any special representative of the UN Secretary General as well as representatives of the P5 members of Security Council to whom they could present their charter of demands.

In his cautious response, Prime Minister Haider said: “Those who have gone there [towards LoC] are our brothers. They have succeeded in letting the world know what they wanted it to know. I hope they will return after they have shown their resolve and commitment to the whole world."

“Such things [march towards the LoC] would continue to happen repeatedly. Eventually, this ill-omened bloody line has to vanish, either in a peaceful way or otherwise. People should make preparations for it from now on,” he said.

“God willing this is bound to happen, sooner or later,” he added.

Haider stressed that there should not be any conceptual chaos in the ranks of Kashmiris.

“We all should raise one slogan and make one demand, that is, plebiscite,” he said.

He emphasised that all those things that lead to division in the society should be avoided to achieve the ultimate target of freedom from India.

Meanwhile, leaders from different political parties, representatives of the legal fraternity, students, and traders visited the JKLF sit-in camp on Tuesday to express solidarity with them.

Prominent among them were Pakistan Peoples Party’s regional president Chaudhry Latif Akbar, Jamaat-e-Islami AJK’s former emir and chairman Public Accounts Committee Abdul Rashid Turabi, and former Islamabad Bar Association president Zahid Mehmood Raja.

Many people came up with quilts and blankets for the marchers without publicising their act on social media, a witness told Dawn.

Though officially there was no word on it, well placed official sources however maintained that “fulfilment of these demands was far beyond the authority of the AJK government.”

“This is something the JKLF itself knows very well,” they remarked, while requesting anonymity.

However, JKLF chief spokesperson Rafiq Dar did not agree with this contention.

Talking to Dawn from the sit-in camp, he maintained that the AJK government could write to the Foreign Office to take up this issue with the UN Secretary General with a request to dispatch his special representative to Chinari in view of the “seriousness of the situation.”

“They claim they head the government of the base camp [launch pad] of freedom struggle. If they are unable to do even this small step, then they should let us move forward,” he said.

“Let me tell you everyone of us is determined, rather eager, to go across the divide.”

https://www.dawn.com/news/1509730/a...-call-off-march-to-loc-as-purpose-greatly-met