Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said the future of Kashmir must be decided by the Kashmiri people, stressing that no constitutional change could be imposed through violence or sit-ins. Addressing party workers in Muzaffarabad, he urged all stakeholders to pursue dialogue and warned that continued unrest in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) could damage the broader Kashmir cause. He also appealed for an immediate de-escalation of tensions.
Bilawal said the current political crisis in AJK stemmed from statements made by federal ministers and argued that the federal government now had the responsibility to help resolve the situation. He said inflammatory language against Kashmiris only deepened divisions and called for restraint from political leaders. According to Bilawal, no one sitting in Islamabad had the authority to decide who should be considered a Kashmiri.
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Calling for calm, the PPP chairman urged protesters to end their sit-ins while reaffirming that peaceful protest is a democratic right. However, he said violent demonstrations could not be justified under any circumstances and warned against allowing extremist politics to take root in the region. He added that disputes should be settled through dialogue rather than confrontation.
Bilawal also emphasized that lasting solutions to Kashmir-related issues should emerge through constitutional and democratic processes. He maintained that constitutional amendments could not be achieved through the use of force or armed pressure. He urged politicians, protest leaders, and all stakeholders to work together to find a peaceful and lasting resolution to the crisis.
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The PPP chairman also described Pakistan’s armed forces as a national red line, saying attacks or criticism directed against them would not be tolerated. He stated that no group could undermine the authority of the state through force and praised the military’s role in maintaining peace and stability. He concluded by calling for unity, responsible leadership, and dialogue to restore normalcy in AJK.