PDP Urges Lasting Peace Along Indo-Pak Border to Protect IIOJK’s Future

As tensions simmer along the India-Pakistan border, former IIOJK Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti delivers a heartfelt plea for lasting peace, urging leaders to replace bunkers with homes and fear with hope.

In a passionate call for stability, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti expressed hope that the newly reaffirmed ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan would hold firm and bring lasting peace to the troubled region of Kashmir.

Speaking during her visit to border villages in Baramulla, Mehbooba told reporters she was praying for the ceasefire to become permanent. “Every time conflict erupts, it’s the innocent civilians who suffer the most — losing their homes, lives, and peace,” she said.

When asked about ceasefire violations that occurred soon after the agreement, she stressed that such situations take time to stabilize. “We shouldn’t react impulsively. When armies face each other at such close quarters, stepping back takes patience,” she explained.

Mufti highlighted the dire conditions across IIOJK’s border districts, noting that areas like Poonch, Rajouri, and Jammu were also suffering with fear and instability. She emphasized that residents in these zones live in constant anxiety due to frequent skirmishes and artillery exchanges.

In a pointed criticism of the central government and its media allies, Mehbooba condemned the narrative that glorifies conflict. “Those calling for war don’t hear our children crying or see our elders shattered by grief. They call for bunkers, but we need homes. We want our children to grow, not be buried,” she said, calling the war rhetoric dangerous and disconnected from ground realities.

During her stop near the Line of Control (LoC) in Uri, she spoke with displaced families who had been forced to flee overnight. “Men, women, and children — all traumatized by violence — just want to live in peace. This is not about politics anymore; it’s about basic human survival,” she remarked.

Mehbooba Mufti warned that IIOJK cannot withstand another war, urging the leadership in New Delhi to shift focus from military action to meaningful dialogue. She appealed directly to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other decision-makers, asking them to act with compassion and foresight.

“Let’s stop turning IIOJK into a battleground. It’s time to give peace a real chance because our children’s future hangs in the balance,” she concluded.