Aasha Khosa/New Delhi

Amidst the raging turmoil – political instability, economic crisis leading to almost food riots – Pakistanis are alarmed at the support of the Legislative Assembly of Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) for the Indian Home Minister Amit Shah’s proposal of reopening the Sharda Peeth corridor across the Line of control on the lines of the Kartarpur corridor in Punjab.

Diplomat and the former High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit has criticized the PoJK leaders for passing a resolution in the House in support of Shah’s idea to open a 25-km route for pilgrims from Teetwal to the Shardei village of POK where an ancient temple of Goddess Sharda, revered by Kashmiri Hindus and also by local Muslims, is located in a ruinous state.

In an interview to an online Pakistani television, Basit condemned that the move and accused the PoJK lawmakers of “giving a rather quick approval to India’s desire to build a pilgrimage corridor” to the Sharda Peeth temple in PoJK." He called it a “dangerous and unfortunate trend.”

I feel sorry for the resolution. Even people sitting in the Legislative Assembly don’t know what are they talking about and far-reaching implications of their proposal. I wish someone could organise a workshop for them on Kashmir dispute. https://t.co/gyTDRXbnHZ

— Abdul Basit (@abasitpak1) March 30, 2023

Basit said: "The Sharda Peeth has importance for Kashmiri Pandits and on the lines of Kartarpur, they want to open the Sharda Peeth corridor. The members of the assembly have passed a resolution opening the corridor. It has come from the Kashmiri leader. The Kartarpur corridor is an International border, this is not an international border. We have always wanted that the LoC should not exist.”

Basit was so miffed with the resolution that he advised Islamabad to hold classes for the PoJK lawmakers on Kashmir.

"I am unable to understand why such ideas come to our mind. I assume that most of the leaders sitting in the PoK Assembly do not know anything about Kashmir or its history. I urge the President and Prime Minister of PoK to organize a workshop for Pok leaders on Kashmir's history. The speaker of the PoK legislative assembly said he was not present when the resolution was passed and if he would have been present such a resolution would not have been passed," he said.

The resolution was moved by the opposition Awami Muslim League and was passed by a voice vote. It echoed the rising current pro-India sentiment in the region that was wrested in October 1947 by the Pakistan Army and tribesmen from NWFP and declared  "Azad Kashmir.". India had to halt its operation to get the territory back due to the ceasefire mandated by the UN Security Council.

The mainstream Pakistani media has chosen to ignore this development. As such newspapers do not given enough coverage to  “Azad Kashmir.”

Also, the PoJK Assembly resolution is important given the seething anger across the region because of the economic depression, rising prices, low power supply, and the constant struggle of locals against the exploitation of resources by the Pakistan Army.

As a new generation of YouTubers and Vlogger from Pakistan bring out accounts of relative prosperity and massive developmental projects unleashed in Jammu and Kashmir to the people, the anti-Pakistan sentiment is rising.

A recent vlog of Yana Mir, a Kashmir-based journalist, about the prices of vegetables, meat, and other essentials for Ramazan, in comparison with skyrocketing prices in PoJK was reused by many for eliciting public opinion. The vlog posted on March 28, has registered 639,006 views.

It may be recalled that last week, a temple that is a replica of the original Sharda Peeth in Shardei was opened in Teetwal village on the line of control.  At the inauguration ceremony, Amit Shah promised to work for opening a corridor to Sharda Peeth.

The Kashmiri leaders across the communities have welcomed the PoJK assembly’s decision. Save Sharda Committee Kashmir has been pushing for the opening of the corridor since 2004. Committee’s head Ravindra Pandita said that we have got to know that the assembly of PoJK has passed a resolution about the opening of the Sharda Peeth corridor and we welcome it. Civil society needs to be congratulated.

Shah’s proposal of opening the corridor to Sharda Peeth has found support from many Kashmiris living in exile.

Jamil Maqsood, Central Secretary for Foreign Affairs Committee, United Kashmir People's National Party (UKPNP)

Jamil Maqsood, Central Secretary for Foreign Affairs Committee, United Kashmir People's National Party (UKPNP) lauded India's plan to open Sharda Peeth Corridor in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

ALSO READ: I feel complete with Hindus and Sikhs returning: Teetwal Sarpanch Abdul Rashid

In an exclusive interview with ANI, the PoK political activist said, "This is a welcome step, but before that Line of Control (LoC) should be opened and travel restrictions should be eased. It will bring religious harmony among the people of PoK and India and will benefit the minority community including Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs."