Statement by Imtiaz Ahmad, Deputy Leader of the Workers Party of Britain, on the Situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir
The Workers Party of Britain is following with profound concern the unfolding situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, including the recent protests, the grievances raised by the Joint Awami Action Committee and the allegations of an excessively heavy-handed response by the authorities.
At the heart of this crisis are the people of Kashmir. Their concerns, aspirations, and wellbeing must remain the central focus of all parties involved.
We recognise that many of those who have taken to the streets have done so out of genuine and deeply felt concerns regarding the rising cost of living, governance, economic hardship, and the future of their communities. Peaceful protest is a fundamental democratic right, and the voices of ordinary Kashmiris must be heard.
We are deeply concerned by reports alleging the use of disproportionate force against protesters. Any such allegations must be investigated. The people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir deserve the full protection of their civil and democratic rights.
Reports of internet blackouts and communication restrictions that have cut families off from one another across borders is a concern. For the vast Kashmiri diaspora, including communities here in Britain, the inability to contact loved ones during periods of heightened tension is causing profound anxiety and distress. Families in Birmingham, Bradford, Luton, Rochdale, Glasgow, and across the country are desperately seeking reassurance about the safety and wellbeing of relatives in Mirpur, Muzaffarabad, Kotli, Rawalakot, and beyond. No family should be left in fear and uncertainty because channels of communication have been severed.
Those who seek to exploit this moment to divide the people of Pakistan and Kashmir fail to recognise the deep bonds of history, culture, faith, family, and shared sacrifice that unite them. The people of Kashmir deserve solidarity and support, not division and political point-scoring.
Here in Britain, Pakistani and Kashmiri communities live side by side as one family. The pain felt in Kashmir is felt equally among the diaspora, whose connections to the region are measured not only by heritage, but by parents, children, siblings, and lifelong relationships.
Our support for Kashmir is unwavering. To stand with the people of Kashmir is to stand for their dignity, their democratic rights, and their right to shape their own future. Supporting the legitimate aspirations of the Kashmiri people should never be misrepresented as hostility towards Pakistan.
The Workers Party of Britain, under the leadership of George Galloway, has a proud and consistent history of standing with oppressed peoples and speaking out against injustice wherever it occurs. Our commitment is guided by principle: that all people deserve dignity, justice, and the right to determine their own future.
We remain steadfast in our support for the relevant United Nations resolutions and the principle of self-determination for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Lasting peace can only be achieved through dialogue, democratic participation, respect for human rights, and adherence to international law.
Today, we urge all parties to recognise the gravity of this moment. We call upon the authorities to exercise maximum restraint, restore full communication channels without delay, and engage constructively with representatives of the Joint Awami Action Committee and wider civil society.
We also call upon the Joint Awami Action Committee to recognise the immense impact that prolonged lockdowns and shutter-down strikes have on the everyday lives of ordinary Kashmiris. The closure of businesses, schools, healthcare services, transport links, and essential amenities places an intolerable burden on families already struggling with economic hardship and uncertainty.
The people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir cannot afford further disruption, division, or escalation. Both the authorities and the Joint Awami Action Committee have an urgent responsibility to resolve this crisis through meaningful dialogue, compromise, and good-faith engagement. There can be no sustainable solution through confrontation. The interests of the people of Kashmir must come before political differences.
Dialogue can succeed where confrontation fails. Escalation serves no one. Reconciliation serves everyone.
Let us reject division. Let us reject hostility. Let us reject any attempt to place the people of Pakistan and the people of Kashmir in opposition to one another.
The people of Kashmir deserve peace, justice, dignity, and a future in which their voices are heard, their rights are respected, and their aspirations are fulfilled.
Imtiaz Ahmad
Deputy Leader
Workers Party of Britain
