Mehbooba Mufti Urges Pakistan to Use Dialogue, Not Force, in PoK Protests

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday appealed to Pakistan to adopt a more humane approach and choose dialogue over force in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), where recent street protests have led to around 30 deaths.

In a post on X, Ms. Mufti described the visuals from across the Line of Control as “deeply heartbreaking” and said it was painful to see peaceful protesters met with brute force. She urged the Government of Pakistan to end the crackdown and stop using force against protesters.

“The protesters’ demands are genuine and deserve to be heard,” Ms. Mufti wrote. “No nation grows stronger by disempowering its own people or by silencing them at gunpoint. The government must end the crackdown and stop spraying bullets at peaceful protesters. Kashmiris deserve dignity, justice, and the right to be heard, not repression.”

The PDP leader’s comments come amid growing concern among political parties in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir over the situation in PoK. The National Conference, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), and the Bharatiya Janata Party have all condemned the killing of civilians by Pakistani security forces in the region.

The protests in PoK are reportedly driven by economic grievances and demands for better governance. Clashes between demonstrators and security forces have resulted in casualties, with reports suggesting around 30 deaths this week. The exact figures remain unverified by independent sources.

Mehbooba Mufti’s statement reflects a call for restraint and dialogue, aligning with her party’s longstanding position on resolving disputes through peaceful means. She did not comment on the internal politics of Pakistan or PoK beyond her appeal for a humane approach.