National ( The cow news digital ) Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore has said that the state will fully assert its authority while urging the banned action committee to call off its protest activities, adding that dialogue remains possible if conditions are met.
Speaking in an interview with a local television channel, the AJK prime minister stated that the current situation in the region is challenging and cannot be described as stable. He said the administration is going through a critical phase and efforts are underway to restore normalcy.
Rathore emphasized that the state’s writ must be maintained under all circumstances. He called on the action committee to withdraw its protest call, saying that only then could meaningful discussions be held. He stressed that the government remains open to dialogue, but only within a constitutional and peaceful framework.
Referring to past negotiations, he said that previous rounds of talks had resulted in the loss of lives and that such tragedies must not be repeated. He claimed that despite repeated efforts to engage, the concerns and warnings from the government were not adequately considered by the protest leadership.
The AJK prime minister also alleged that the action committee had refused to involve the regional government in dialogue processes, instead insisting on direct talks with the federal government. He said this approach had created misunderstandings and shifted public criticism toward the local administration.
He further stated that many of the demands raised during the ongoing political agitation had already been addressed, claiming that commitments made earlier had been fulfilled and remaining issues were included in the recent federal budget.
Rathore reiterated that while peaceful protest is a democratic right, any attempt to challenge the authority of the state or escalate tensions would not be acceptable. He added that all stakeholders would be engaged in talks once the protest call is withdrawn.
Responding to questions about the involvement of women and children in the protests, he said that participants are often misled with promises and selective narratives, which eventually draws them into political movements.
The situation in Azad Kashmir has remained tense amid ongoing demonstrations and political friction between authorities and protest groups, with both sides calling for dialogue while maintaining firm positions.
