Deputy PM terms reported move “provocative” and “unacceptable” as Youm-e-Istehsal observed across Pakistan
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has expressed serious concerns over reports suggesting that the Indian government may be planning to restore the statehood of Jammu while keeping occupied Kashmir as a union territory a move he described as “provocative, unacceptable, and condemnable.”
Speaking at a rally held in Islamabad to mark Youm-e-Istehsal — the sixth anniversary of India’s unilateral revocation of Article 370 and the special status of Jammu and Kashmir — Dar warned that the decision might be officially announced by New Delhi within hours or days.
“On August 5, 2019, Jammu and Kashmir were stripped of their autonomy and downgraded to union territories. Now, reports suggest that statehood may be restored to Jammu only, leaving Kashmir under direct central rule. This is a dangerous and unacceptable step,” said the deputy prime minister during a march from the Foreign Office to D-Chowk.
Citing Indian media, Dar pointed to recent back-to-back meetings between Indian President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Home Minister Amit Shah fueling speculation that a policy shift regarding the region’s status is imminent. The timing also coincides with the Indian Supreme Court’s upcoming hearing on August 8, where a petition seeks restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood.
Reiterating Pakistan’s firm stance, Dar called on India to immediately reverse all illegal actions taken on August 5, 2019, lift the media blackout, and end its oppressive military presence in the region. “Kashmir remains an internationally recognised dispute. Its future cannot and will not be determined through internal legislation or court rulings,” he asserted.
He reaffirmed that Pakistan will continue to extend diplomatic, political, and moral support to the people of Jammu and Kashmir until their right to self-determination is fully realised in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions.
Dar emphasised that while Pakistan seeks peace and friendly ties with all its neighbours, this should not be misconstrued as weakness. “We believe in dialogue and diplomacy, but if provoked, Pakistan’s armed forces and its people are fully prepared to defend the motherland as seen during Marka-e-Haq, following the April 22 Pahalgam attack and the conclusion of Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos on May 10.”
