MUZAFFARABAD: Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said that the upcoming elections in Azad Jammu and Kashmir are taking place in an important context, describing them as closely linked to the Kashmir cause and the protection of the Kashmiri people.
Addressing party workers in LA-36 Jammu-3, Khawaja Asif said he had witnessed many elections in Azad Kashmir but that the current polls were being held under circumstances different from previous elections.
He said the sacrifices of Kashmiri migrants should be remembered, adding that many people had laid down their lives in connection with the Kashmir issue.
Referring to Pakistan’s long-standing position, the defence minister said that Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah had described Kashmir as Pakistan’s “jugular vein,” and asserted that the historic relationship between Pakistan and Kashmir was being challenged.
Khawaja Asif also paid tribute to members of Pakistan’s armed forces, saying they had made significant sacrifices in recent years. He criticized those who, in his view, target the military despite those sacrifices.
Commenting on regional developments, the minister said Pakistan’s name was frequently being mentioned in discussions surrounding tensions involving Iran and the United States.
The remarks were made during a political address and reflect the defence minister’s views on the Kashmir issue and regional affairs. The status of Jammu and Kashmir remains the subject of a longstanding dispute between India and Pakistan.
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