'No One In Islamabad Can Define Kashmiri Identity': Bilawal Bhutto Rejects 'Terror' Tag On PoK Protesters
'No One In Islamabad Can Define Kashmiri Identity': Bilawal Bhutto Rejects 'Terror' Tag On PoK Protesters Reported By, Last Updated: July 16, 2026, 15:12 IST
'No One In Islamabad Can Define Kashmiri Identity': Bilawal Bhutto Rejects 'Terror' Tag On PoK Protesters Reported By, Last Updated: July 16, 2026, 15:12 IST Bhutto proposed the creation of an independent Truth and Reconciliation Commission, backed by all stakeholders, to investigate the violence Rapid Read Bilawal Bhutto (File PIc: AP) Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has publicly defended the identity of protesters in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), asserting that “no one sitting in Islamabad has the right to determine who is or is not Kashmiri". In a letter addressing the ongoing unrest in PoK, Bhutto criticised attempts to brand members of the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC) as terrorists and argued that the crisis cannot be resolved through force or mutual accusations. Instead, he proposed the creation of an independent Truth and Reconciliation Commission, backed by all stakeholders, to investigate the violence, establish the facts and examine the political and legal issues at the heart of the confrontation. Calls For Pause In Confrontation As part of his proposal, Bhutto outlined what he described as a two-way confidence-building arrangement aimed at defusing tensions.
He appealed to the JKJAAC to temporarily suspend its proposed long march and sit-ins, while simultaneously urging the authorities to refrain from any further administrative or coercive action until the proposed commission completes its work. According to Bhutto, the current deadlock cannot be broken through confrontation, and dialogue remains the only viable path forward. ‘Identity And Dignity Are Unconditional’ A central theme of Bhutto’s letter was the identity of the people of Kashmir. He stated that the identity and dignity of Kashmiris are unconditional and strongly opposed statements questioning the identity of residents of Rawalakot, saying no authority in Islamabad has the right to determine who qualifies as Kashmiri. Bhutto also argued that the relationship between the Pakistani state and the people of Kashmir requires a fundamental reset. According to him, that relationship should be based on consent, dignity, democratic rights and mutual respect, rather than coercion, inflammatory rhetoric or the use of force. ‘Peace Is Not Surrender’ Bhutto clarified that his appeal for restraint should not be interpreted as asking protesters to abandon their demands. Rather, he described it as a pragmatic effort to prevent further loss of life while creating space for a political solution.
The BriefWire