ISLAMABAD – Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has raised concerns that India may be planning to restore statehood to Jammu while keeping Kashmir under union territory status. Speaking at a rally in Islamabad on Tuesday, he referred to recent Indian media reports suggesting that a formal announcement may come within days.
Dar was addressing a gathering marking the sixth anniversary of India’s revocation of Article 370, which stripped Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) of its semi-autonomous status on August 5, 2019. He noted that both Jammu and Kashmir were declared union territories then, but now, reports indicate a shift in policy, granting statehood only to Jammu.
“This is not just unacceptable, it is provocative,” Dar said, calling the possible move a violation of international norms.
He further noted that Indian President Droupadi Murmu’s recent meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have added to speculation that New Delhi is moving ahead with this plan. The issue may also surface during a Supreme Court hearing scheduled for August 8, where a plea has been filed urging the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood.
The deputy prime minister demanded India roll back its decisions from 2019, lift the media blackout in Kashmir, and end its alleged human rights violations. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination.
Calling Kashmir an internationally recognized dispute, Dar stressed that its future cannot be settled through internal legal measures or court rulings. He reiterated that Pakistan seeks peaceful coexistence and prefers diplomacy over conflict. However, he warned that Pakistan remains ready to respond to any threats, citing its past military readiness during high-tension periods with India.
Dar’s remarks have sparked fresh political attention to the long-standing Kashmir dispute, especially in light of the rumored administrative changes.
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