Hundreds march in Kargil to demand opening of Kargil-Skardu road

A day ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Jammu and Kashmir, hundreds of people participated in a march in Kargil district of Ladakh to demand the opening of Kargil-Skardu route. 

The march was organisged by Anjuman-e-Jamiat-e-Ulema Isna Ashariya Kargil (AJUIAK) which demands opening of the route from Khomeini Chowk to Laal-Chowk.

The procession began after Friday prayers and led by AJUIAK president Sheikh Nazir Mehdi Mohammadi. Several other clerics also participated in the march. The AJUIAK requested people to support their movement.

Mohammadi told the gathering that around 12,000 to 15,000 families remained divided due to the closure of the route connecting Kargil with Skardu. 

The families got divided due to the formation of the ceasefire line in 1948 which later became the Line of Control (LoC). He appealed to the government of India to open both Kargil-Skardu and Turtuk-Khapualo roads on humanitarian grounds. He referred to the Parliament resolution of 1994 which said the whole of Jammu and Kashmir, including Gilgit-Baltistan, was an integral part of India.

Addressing the marchers, he said: “The families were divided in a night in 1947. Again in 1971, more villages like Hundermo, Budgam, Tyakshi and Cholunkha came under India and more families got divided.” He said many people waited and died without meeting their separated kin.

Mohammadi said New Delhi should take up the issue with Pakistan which is ready to open the route.

After the opening of Kartarpur corridor for the people of Punjab, several people in Kargil had demanded the opening up of Kargil-Skardu and other routes connecting the two sides.

On January 29, AJUIAK had announced to launch a movement for opening up of the routes that connect Kargil with Gilgit and Baltistan.

Kargil suffers due to lack of development and connectivity, he had said.

“Roads are opened in Punjab and J&K‌ border but our people are not able to meet their relatives,” Mohammadi had said. “We remained cutoff for six months with the world and if this road opens, our 80 per cent problems would be solved.”

He had said the region has zero security threat.

Supporting the demand for opening the traditional routes linking Kargil with Gilgit and Baltistan, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti tweeted: “PDP envisaged through #SelfRule not only opening of #KargilSkardu , but other routes too , to let people explore & increase contacts across borders . Such initiatives will not only open up jk to the world around us ,but also serve the cause of peace beyond boundaries @jkpdp”

National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah also chipped in. “1000s march in Kargil town in support of the demand to open the Kargil-Skardu road. @JKNC_  supports this genuine demand of the people of the area & hopes that @PMOIndia will announce this important CBM when he next visits J&K,” he tweeted.

Separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq also threw his wait behind the demand by people in Kargil. He tweeted: “Support People’s march in #Kargil demanding reopening of old Kargil-Skardu route which is just 120 kms apart ! All natural routes of divided state of J&K should be opened and people allowed to connect to their loved ones,have access to essentials in harsh weather conditions and be able to visit their places of worship and do commerce.” 

The opening of the route is likely to become major topic of debate ahead of the impending elections in the state.