AJK Govt Urges Dialogue Amid Unrest, Rejects Lockdown Approach

MUZAFFARABAD: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government has once again extended an invitation for dialogue to the Action Committee in a bid to resolve the ongoing tensions in the region. The announcement was made by Minister for Local Government and Rural Development and head of the negotiation committee, Raja Faisal Mumtaz Rathore, in a video statement on Tuesday.

Ministers Dewan Ali Khan Chughtai and Chaudhry Qasim Majeed were also present during the announcement.

Raja Faisal stated that the region is currently in a state of unrest and emphasized that ensuring the safety of citizens’ lives and property is the government’s top responsibility. “We are trying our best to maintain peace in the state. Imposing lockdowns is a tactic associated with Modi’s regime, not ours,” he remarked.

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He further stressed that the current situation cannot be resolved without meaningful dialogue. “The government had previously kept the door open for negotiations with the Action Committee, and we still believe in resolving matters through mutual understanding,” he said.

Condemning disruptions to public life, the minister urged all parties to preserve the peaceful and cooperative environment that Azad Kashmir is known for. “Creating conditions where both sides suffer is not in anyone’s interest. We must avoid such outcomes and work together to protect our state,” he added.