SRINAGAR: In a sharp diplomatic escalation, the National Conference (NC) party has strongly rejected a scathing critique from Islamabad regarding the elected government of Jammu and Kashmir, firmly declaring that it “does not need certificates from Pakistan”. The political row marks the first time since the 2019 abrogation of J&K’s special status and the subsequent 2024 regional elections that Pakistan has directly targeted the elected local administration.
The Catalyst: Pakistan’s Allegations of Cultural Alteration
The diplomatic dispute was triggered by official remarks from Tahir Andrabi, the spokesperson for Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry. Addressing the media, Andrabi accused the Omar Abdullah administration of acting as an accomplice to India’s regional policies and contributing to the “defacement” of the Muslim identity of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Pakistani foreign ministry specifically highlighted a recent anti-encroachment drive in Jammu, during which the houses of indigenous Gujjar tribals were demolished. Terming the demolitions a “grave situation,” the Pakistani spokesperson alleged that house demolitions, community displacements, and natural resource exploitation were part of a “wider framework to Hinduise Kashmir”. According to Pakistani officials, each development is being monitored by the Kashmir desk of their Ministry of Foreign Affairs for intervention at international platforms.
In response to the underlying incident, the J&K administration maintained that the bulldozing was strictly part of an anti-encroachment drive executed last month, and the government has subsequently ordered a formal probe into the demolition of the tribal homes.
National Conference Retaliation: Defending Democratic Aspirations
Hitting back at the allegations, Tanvir Sadiq, Chief Spokesman of the National Conference, stated that Islamabad’s tirade only exposes its deep-seated discomfort with legitimate democratic systems.
The party issued a comprehensive rebuttal focusing on three strategic areas:
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Disregard for Democracy: The NC asserted that Pakistan is structurally uncomfortable with any political process in Jammu & Kashmir that is rooted in democracy, constitutional struggle, and public elections, showing zero respect for the genuine mandate of the people.
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Historical Dismissal: The party noted that for decades, Islamabad has routinely dismissed legitimately elected J&K governments as “puppets”. Ironically, this latest attack comes even as elected representatives are organizing a democratic and constitutional protest to demand the restoration of statehood from New Delhi.
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Sovereign Framework: The NC emphasized that its ongoing struggle for the restoration of statehood and constitutional guarantees arises purely from past commitments made by the Government of India, legal affirmations placed before the Supreme Court, and the overwhelming aspirations of the local populace—completely independent of external narrative building.
