Javed Rathore has expressed deep concern over the current situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir warning that if immediate attention is not given to the crisis the region could be heading toward a major tragedy.

Javed Rathore has expressed deep concern over the current situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir warning that if immediate attention is not given to the crisis the region could be heading toward a major tragedy. Rathore said Based on the information reaching me it appears that Kashmir is heading toward a very serious tragedy perhaps the biggest in its history. The reports and developments emerging are extremely alarming and there are grave concerns about what may happen next. He said he wanted to address the Government of Azad Kashmir, the Government of Pakistan, and the leadership of the Joint Public Action Committee. According to Rathore while he was in Pakistan he met senators members of parliament, political leaders, and representatives of the Public Action Committee. He explained that he had already sensed the situation was moving in the wrong direction and therefore tried to encourage dialogue before matters worsened. Rathore said he had suggested that the Public Action Committee continue its sit in protest while allowing markets and shops to remain open so that the public would not suffer unnecessarily and negotiations with the government could continue potentially leading to an acceptable solution. According to him the Public Action Committee believed that the government would have to surrender claiming that during the previous protest movement more than 30 young people were killed, promises were broken, and public trust had been lost. At the same time he said the government was also unwilling to back down from its position. Rathore added that he had advised the government as well, saying No matter what happens the state should not be weakened. Those who possess power also have authority and they should make wise decisions instead of relying on force. He also referred to a recent government claim alleging that the Public Action Committee had kidnapped 12 police officers and that an operation would be launched if they were not recovered. Questioning this claim Rathore said that in his view the committee’s workers were unarmed and unlikely to carry out such an act. He expressed concern that such statements could be used to justify action against the public. He further stated that the Public Action Committee was preparing to launch a civil disobedience movement, while both sides remained firm in their positions increasing the risk of further escalation. Rathore said that India had always sought to create distance between the people of Kashmir and Pakistan and warned that if the current situation continued it could damage Pakistan’s position on the Kashmir issue internationally. He also claimed that Kashmiris were protesting outside Pakistani embassies in various countries which in his view was harming Pakistan’s diplomatic stance on Kashmir. Rathore further alleged that the prolonged internet shutdown in Azad Kashmir restrictions on movement and other measures had caused severe hardship for ordinary citizens. He also claimed to have received reports of the death of a young man in Rawalakot and of snipers being deployed on rooftops. Appealing to the political leadership Rathore said those in power should understand the consequences of their decisions for the state and choose dialogue restraint and wisdom instead of the use of force. In conclusion he said that the people of Kashmir could not be subdued through force and urged the government to immediately work toward reducing tensions addressing public grievances and resolving the crisis through negotiations to prevent a major humanitarian tragedy. #alnoornews