ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): Chairman of the Jammu Kashmir Salvation Movement, Altaf Ahmed Bhat, has extended his heartfelt gratitude to the Pakistan Armed Forces for their swift, disciplined, and highly professional response to the recent Indian aggression.
The timely mobilization of fighter squadrons, the safeguarding of strategic installations, and the evacuation of civilians from high-risk areas underscores not only operational excellence but also the Armed Forces’ unwavering dedication to national defence and civilian safety.
In a statement, Bhat emphasized that the resolute actions of the Pakistan Army and Air Force helped restore calm in a moment of grave regional uncertainty and likely prevented a wider and more devastating conflict.
He also welcomed with deep appreciation the diplomatic breakthrough that resulted in a full and immediate ceasefire between India and Pakistan, announced on May 10, 2025.
He particularly lauded the efforts of U.S. President Donald Trump, whose mediation and backchannel diplomacy played a crucial role in securing the agreement. “The world was on the edge,” Bhat remarked.
“Missiles, drones, and retaliatory strikes displaced thousands and sent tremors through global markets.
“The risk of accidental escalation between two nuclear states could have had unimaginable consequences—not just for South Asia, but for all of humanity.”
Core issue of Kashmir
Amid the relief brought by the ceasefire, Bhat reminded the world that true and lasting peace cannot be achieved without resolving the core issue of Kashmir.
He sought the decades-old dispute over Jammu and Kashmir resolved through United Nations Security Council Resolution 47 (1948), which called for the withdrawal of non-local forces and the conduct of a free, impartial plebiscite to determine the future of the region.
The continued failure to implement this resolution, he argued, has only fueled cycles of violence and deepened the suffering of the Kashmiri people.
“The right to self-determination is not a slogan—it is a fundamental right,” Bhat said.
“Any sustainable resolution must include the voices and aspirations of the Kashmiri people themselves. External solutions imposed without their involvement will neither be legitimate nor lasting.”
He urged both Pakistan and India to agree to a new round of negotiations at a neutral venue under United Nations oversight.
He further called for the inclusion of all major Kashmiri political groups and civil society actors in these discussions, stressing that no deal can be meaningful if it excludes the people most affected.
Bhat also thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for his energetic and principled diplomacy in the days following the crisis.
From engaging global leaders to presenting Pakistan’s case at international forums, the Prime Minister’s leadership was instrumental in mobilizing world opinion in favour of de-escalation and long-term peace.
In his remarks, Bhat praised Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir for maintaining a firm yet measured military posture during the crisis.
He commended the Pakistan Air Force for its precise and coordinated support, carried out under extreme conditions, and noted that their discipline prevented the situation from spiraling into full-scale war.
