A resident of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) has reported that Indian soldiers confiscated 22 goats after the animals crossed the Line of Control (LoC) into Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). The livestock owner has formally filed a complaint with local authorities regarding the incident.
Mussami Al-F Khan, from Kairni village in Haveli district, stated in a complaint submitted to Kahuta Police Station on April 7 that his son, Kamal Din, was grazing the family’s animals near the LoC on April 1. Due to the close proximity to the border, the goats inadvertently crossed into the Indian side.
Following the crossing, Indian army patrols arrived at the location and took possession of 22 goats belonging to the family. In a video message, Mussami emphasized that the goats are his sole means of income, and their loss has severely affected his household’s financial stability.
He appealed to authorities in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan to intervene, either to recover the animals or to provide compensation for the loss. The complainant also mentioned that local officials, including the Pakistan Army, had been informed about the situation, but the goats had not yet been returned.
The LoC, which separates the disputed Kashmir region between India and Pakistan, is heavily militarized and frequently witnesses incidents involving civilians from border villages, including unintentional livestock crossings.
Officials from Azad Jammu and Kashmir have not yet issued a statement concerning this matter, and Indian authorities were not immediately reachable for comment. Residents living near the border often depend on grazing livestock close to the LoC to sustain their livelihoods. However, accidental crossings can result in the loss of animals due to stringent military regulations on both sides.
In a significant development, the complainant has called on both AJK and Pakistani authorities, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, to assist in either retrieving the goats or providing financial compensation to mitigate the impact on his family.
