Vote Counting Underway in Jammu and Kashmir: Engineer Rashid Appeals for Peaceful Resolution

As the counting of votes for the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections began on Tuesday, Awami Ittehad Party President and Member of Parliament, Sheikh Abdul Rashid, also known as Engineer Rashid, called for peace and highlighted the region's unique strategic importance. He stressed that power is temporary and urged for the rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir to be respected.

Rashid pointed out the region’s critical geopolitical position between Pakistan and China, noting that the international community is paying close attention. He said, "Power is not a permanent thing... Jammu and Kashmir is not an ordinary State. On one side there is Pakistan, on the other side there is China. The world is watching us. Let the people of Kashmir live and give them their rights."

The MP from Baramullah also urged India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, to make efforts for peace in Kashmir during his upcoming visit to Islamabad for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. Rashid said, "External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar should not go to Islamabad just for a tour. He should not deceive the world that I went to the Shanghai conference. He should do something good behind the scenes for the peace of Kashmir."

Rashid further emphasized the role of the next government in Jammu and Kashmir, calling for it to act as a bridge between the region's people and the central government in New Delhi. "I urge that whatever government is formed in Jammu and Kashmir, it should act as a bridge between the people of Jammu and Kashmir and New Delhi so that our troubles end and people live with honour, dignity, and self-respect," he said.

The vote counting for the 90 constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir started at 8 a.m. on Tuesday. The election was held in three phases on September 18, September 25, and October 1. The Election Commission of India reported an overall voter turnout of 63.88%, with the third phase recording a turnout of 69.69%.

Exit polls have suggested that the National Conference-Congress alliance has a potential advantage in the results.

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