Pak should stop interfering in J&K's internal matters, address human rights violations in PoJK: Omar

08/08/2026

JAMMU, Aug 7: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday asked Pakistan to stop interfering in India's internal affairs and instead address the situation in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kash-mir (PoJK), while asserting that issues relating to Jammu and Kashmir would be resolved within the country's democratic and constitut-ional framework.
Responding to remarks by Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on the anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370, Abdullah said Pakistan had no role in matters concerning Jammu and Kashmir.
"We have our own differences over the August 5 decision, but that is India's internal matter. Pakistan has nothing to do with it. The more they interfere, the weaker our case becomes," he told reporters.
The Chief Minister alleged that serious human rights violations were taking place in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir and urged Islamabad to focus on addressing those issues instead of commenting on India's internal affairs.
"As for our side, whatever we have to achieve through our own efforts, we will do ourselves," he said.
Expressing concern over reports of civilian casualties in PoJK, Abdullah called for an impartial investigation into the incidents.
Earlier in the day, the Chief Minister launched the Jammu and Kashmir Artificial Intelligence Centre of Excellence (AI CoE) and dedicated Project Phoenix, an AI-enabled digital commerce platform, at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Jammu.
The AI Centre of Excellence has been established jointly by the Government of India, the Jammu and Kashmir Government and IIT Jammu to develop technology-driven solutions in sectors such as governance, healthcare, education, agriculture and disaster management.
Addressing the gathering, Abdullah said Artificial Intelligence should be used to solve region-specific challenges and improve governance.
"We all hear about AI and use platforms like ChatGPT and Gemini. The question is whether AI can help solve Jammu and Kashmir's problems," he said.
He said AI could help improve education in remote areas, assist doctors in diagnosing diseases, identify crop and orchard diseases at an early stage and provide more accurate weather forecasts to minimise losses caused by natural disasters.
Referring to recent heavy rainfall in Rajouri and Reasi, Abdullah stressed the need for AI-enabled early warning systems capable of identifying localised risks and issuing timely alerts.
Highlighting unemployment as one of the Union Territory's biggest challenges, the Chief Minister said government jobs alone could not address the issue and emphasised the importance of entrepreneurship and self-employment.
He said Project Phoenix would complement the Government's Mission YUVA initiative by providing entrepreneurs, artisans, self-help groups and MSMEs with mentorship, market access, incubation support and digital commerce opportunities.
Abdullah also called for sustained promotion of the handloom and handicrafts sector, saying it plays a vital role in Jammu and Kashmir's economy and rural livelihoods and should receive support throughout the year.
Responding to a separate question, the Chief Minister welcomed RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's recent remarks that protesting youth should not be branded anti-national, saying opposition to the government should not be equated with opposition to the nation.
He also urged authorities to avoid punitive action against students participating in peaceful protests and said dialogue remained the best way to address their concerns.

Photo Gallery

BSE Sensex

NSE Nifty