Thousands march to highly militarized LoC
Observer Report
Islamabad
Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday once again advised the residents of Azad Jammu and Kashmir 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.
“I understand the anguish of the Kashmiris in AJK seeing their fellow Kashmiris in IOJK (Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir) under an inhumane curfew for over 2 months,” the premier said in a tweet.
“But anyone crossing the LoC from AJK to provide humanitarian aid or support for Kashmiri struggle will play into the hands of the Indian narrative,” he wrote.
That Indian narrative, Prime Minister Imran explained, tries to divert attention from the indigenous struggle of Kashmiris 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 and attack across LoC,” he cautioned. Meanwhile, thousands of people in Azad Kashmir began marching toward the highly militarized Line of Control that divides the territory between Pakistan and India to protest the lockdown in Indian-administered Kashmir on Saturday.
Toqeer Gillani, a leader of Jammu-Kashmir Liberation Front, said Saturday the group will cross the frontier near Chakoti. He said they would spend the night at the midway point and resume their on-foot journey early Sunday.
Senior police officer Arshad Naqvi said no one would be allowed to get to the Line of Control due to security concerns.
