Islamabad (TDI): Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has expressed serious concern over reports suggesting that the Indian government may soon restore statehood to Jammu while continuing to hold occupied Kashmir as a union territory, a move he called provocative and unacceptable.
Speaking at a rally held to mark Youm-e-Istehsal, the sixth anniversary of India’s unilateral revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status on August 5, 2019, Dar pointed to Indian media reports hinting at a shift in Delhi’s policy.
The rally began at the Foreign Office and proceeded to D-Chowk in Islamabad, attended by senior officials and civil society representatives.
“Back in 2019, India downgraded Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh to union territories,” Dar noted. “Now there’s talk that Jammu might regain its statehood status, while Kashmir remains under union territory rule. If true, this is nothing but another layer of India’s illegal and oppressive agenda.”
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Dar added that such a decision could be announced “in the coming hours or days,” citing reports of recent high-level meetings between Indian President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Home Minister Amit Shah.
This development comes just ahead of a key Indian Supreme Court hearing on August 8, which will consider a petition urging the central government to restore full statehood to Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
In his speech, the foreign minister renewed Pakistan’s demand that India reverse all actions taken on August 5, 2019, end its military crackdown in the region, and lift the media blackout that continues to silence local voices.
He reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering political, diplomatic, and moral support for the Kashmiri people and their struggle for self-determination, as recognized under international law and multiple UN Security Council resolutions.
“The future of Kashmir cannot be decided through Indian legislation or court decisions,” Dar said. “Kashmir is a globally acknowledged dispute, not an internal matter.”
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Reiterating Pakistan’s preference for peaceful coexistence and regional stability, he emphasized that Islamabad remains committed to resolving issues through dialogue and diplomacy, not conflict. However, he cautioned that Pakistan’s desire for peace should not be mistaken for weakness.
He cited the country’s military readiness, referencing “Marka-e-Haq”, the name attributed by the Pakistan Army to its response during the April–May 2025 military escalation following the Pahalgam attack. “Our forces and people are fully capable of giving a decisive response to any act of aggression,” he warned.
Farkhund Yousafzai is an Associate Editor at The Diplomatic Insight.
