Tue Mar 04 13:15:11 UTC 2025: ## Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Debates PoK Infrastructure Amidst Heated Exchange

**Jammu, March 4, 2025** – A heated debate erupted in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly today over the state of infrastructure in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The exchange, between ruling National Conference (NC) and opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members, followed a comment by NC MLA Saifullah Mir suggesting that PoK’s border infrastructure surpasses that of Jammu and Kashmir in certain areas.

Mir’s statement, made during question hour, sparked immediate outrage from BJP MLA R.S. Pathania, who condemned the comparison. Pathania criticized Mir for praising a country with which India has strained relations and accused PoK of supporting separatism and terrorism. The ensuing verbal sparring involved several other MLAs, with NC members defending Mir’s observation.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah intervened to calm the situation, emphasizing that while development in Jammu and Kashmir is a matter for discussion, Mir’s assessment, based on his proximity to the Line of Control, was not entirely unfounded. Abdullah pointed out that any progress in PoK’s border regions is largely due to Chinese aid, contrasting it with Jammu and Kashmir’s development which, he stressed, has been achieved without foreign assistance. He further stated that the situation in PoK is dire, despite the Chinese aid.

Abdullah’s comments were aimed at defusing the tension between the NC and BJP, highlighting the stark differences between the two sides of the border. While acknowledging the need for further development in Jammu and Kashmir, he emphasized the region’s progress compared to PoK. The Chief Minister concluded by calling for constructive dialogue and a focus on the welfare of the people. The debate underscored the sensitive nature of cross-border comparisons and highlighted ongoing political tensions in the region.

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