ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Amir Muqam has offered talks to protesters staging a sit-in in Rawalakot, urging them to engage in dialogue to resolve the ongoing situation.
Speaking about the protest, Muqam said not everyone participating in the sit-in should be viewed as a militant or extremist, adding that the majority were patriotic citizens. He urged the protesters to distance themselves from individuals with what he described as “negative intentions” and join the government for negotiations.
“I do not believe everyone at the sit-in is involved in terrorism. Most of them are patriotic people. They should separate themselves from those with negative motives and sit with us for dialogue,” he said.
The federal minister also distanced the government from recent remarks made by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, describing them as his personal opinion rather than the official policy of either the government or the ruling party.
Muqam praised the people of Rawalakot and the wider Poonch region for their contributions to Pakistan, saying they had made significant sacrifices in the country’s defence and deserved respect and recognition. He added that the people of Poonch had long served as guardians of the country’s borders.
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