Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) President Shah Ghulam Qadir has strongly condemned Afghanistan's stance on Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and demanded the repatriation of Afghans residing illegally in AJK.
Qadir sharply criticised remarks made by Afghanistan's foreign minister, calling them ignorant of history and describing the Taliban government's statement on IIOJK, which he said echoed India's position, as regrettable and worthy of condemnation.
He added that while the Afghan people have historically supported the Kashmiri cause, the current administration's stance was unacceptable.
He urged the AJK government to immediately define its policy regarding Afghans living unlawfully in the region, claiming that thousands were residing illegally across several districts.
Qadir demanded their prompt return to Afghanistan, asserting that the issue could no longer be ignored.
Condemning Afghan attacks on Pakistan, Qadir warned that any alleged Afghanistan-India alliance would not last. "Those who betray the martyrs of IIOJK will never succeed".
Qadir also lauded the Pakistan Armed Forces, saying they had dealt a telling blow to Pakistan's long-standing enemy, India, and had likewise humbled the Taliban government.
"The Kashmiri nation is proud of the Pakistan Army and stands shoulder to shoulder with the armed forces."
Reacting to the recent joint statement by Afghanistan and India implying that Kashmir was part of India, Qadir denounced the stance as a blatant violation of United Nations resolutions and the right of Kashmiris to self-determination.
"This misleading position is not only historically and religiously untenable; it is also an insult to the sacrifices of hundreds of thousands of Kashmiri martyrs."
The PML-N AJK president reiterated that the United Nations recognised Kashmir as a disputed territory, affirming that the people of Kashmir have the right to decide their future through a referendum, a decision "no country, whether India or Afghanistan, can overturn".
"Attacks on our borders are attacks on Pakistan's sovereignty and national honour. The nation stands with its armed forces. Pakistan is a strong fortress; our forces have the full capability to respond decisively to any aggression," he added.
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