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{{Short description|Political party in India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox Indian political party
|party_name = Jammu and Kashmir Awami Ittehad Party
|abbreviation = AIP
|party_logo =
|colorcode = #106031
|leader = [[Engineer Rashid]]
|chairperson =[[Mohammad Yousuf Bhat]]
|foundation = {{start date and age|2013|6|12|df=y}}<ref name="v632">{{cite web | last=Life | first=Kashmir | title=Divided We Stand | website=Kashmir Life | date=16 Jun 2013 | url=https://kashmirlife.net/divided-we-stand-3-33874/ | access-date=9 Oct 2024}}</ref>
|founder = [[Engineer Rashid]]
|headquarters = [[Srinagar]]
|eci = Unrecognised
|alliance =
|loksabha_seats = {{Composition bar|1|543|hex=#106031}}
|rajyasabha_seats = {{Composition bar|0|245|hex=#106031}}
|state2_seats_name = [[District Development Council]]
|state2_seats =
{{Composition bar|3|280|hex=#106031}}
|ideology = [[Kashmiriyat]]
|youth =[[AIP Youth Wing]]
|website = {{URL|https://awamiithadpartyjk.com/#}}
|state_seats_name = [[Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly]]
|state_seats = {{Composition bar|1|90|hex=#106031}}
}}

'''Jammu and Kashmir Awami Ittehad Party''' ({{small|abbr.}} '''JKAIP''') is an Indian political party in the Indian Union Territory of [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gilani |first=Iftikhar |date=2024-06-22 |title=Kashmir Elections 2024: Engineer Rashid's Surprising Win Signals Political Shift |url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/politics/engineer-rashid-arrested-by-nia-on-money-laundering-charges-wins-from-jail-baramulla-kashmir/article68312092.ece |access-date=2024-09-12 |website=Frontline |language=en}}</ref> Founded in 2013 by [[Engineer Rashid]], the party has been active in [[local politics]], including the [[2024 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly election]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-22 |title=AIP announces maiden list of nine candidates for assembly elections |url=https://www.greaterkashmir.com/kashmir/aip-announces-maiden-list-of-nine-candidates-for-assembly-elections/ |access-date=2024-09-12 |website=Greater Kashmir |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=RAHEEM |first=TARIQUE |date=2024-09-11 |title=AIP's Firdous Baba files nomination papers for Kupwara |url=https://www.greaterkashmir.com/kashmir/aips-firdous-baba-files-nomination-papers-for-kupwara/ |access-date=2024-09-12 |website=Greater Kashmir |language=en-US}}</ref>

While the Jammu and Kashmir Awami Ittehad Party presents itself as an alternative to traditional [[Politics of Jammu and Kashmir|political forces in the region]],<ref name="y436">{{cite web | last=Shabir | first=Zaid Bin | title=Engineer Rashid: A Disruptor of Kashmir's Existing Political Equations or a 'Proxy' of the Modi Government? | website=Frontline | date=19 Sep 2024 | url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/politics/engineer-rashid-release-game-changer-aip-jammu-kashmir-assembly-election-nc-pdp/article68659555.ece | access-date=9 Oct 2024}}</ref><ref name="e965">{{cite web | last=Bhakto | first=Anando | title=Does BJP have a hand in Engineer Rashid's political prominence? | website=Deccan Herald | date=18 Sep 2024 | url=https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/does-bjp-have-a-hand-in-engineer-rashids-political-prominence-3195490 | access-date=9 Oct 2024}}</ref> some political commentators have speculated that it may have ties to or be indirectly [[electoral alliance|sponsored]] by the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP), possibly acting as a proxy.<ref name="y436"/><ref name="b317">{{cite web | last=Bhushan | first=Bharat | title=Is Engineer Rashid's bail BJP's wild card in J&K? | website=Deccan Herald | date=13 Sep 2024 | url=https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/is-engineer-rashids-bail-bjps-wild-card-in-jk-3189273 | access-date=9 Oct 2024}}</ref> However, the party leadership has consistently denied these claims, asserting its [[Self-governance|independence]] and focus on regional issues.<ref name="y187">{{cite web | author=The Hindu Bureau | title=Engineer Rashid says he is no 'BJP proxy' | website=The Hindu | date=11 Sep 2024 | url=https://www.thehindu.com/elections/jammu-and-kashmir-assembly/lok-sabha-mp-engineer-rashid-walks-out-of-tihar-jail-on-interim-bail-to-campaign-in-jk-assembly-polls/article68629943.ece | access-date=9 Oct 2024}}</ref><ref name="p763">{{cite web | last1=Thakur | first1=Nirbhay | last2=Iqbal | first2=Naveed | title=Engineer Rashid walks out, dismisses 'BJP proxy' tag; party dubs him 'rank separatist' | website=The Indian Express | date=11 Sep 2024 | url=https://indianexpress.com/elections/engineer-rashid-walks-out-dismisses-bjp-proxy-tag-party-dubs-him-rank-separatist-9562860/ | access-date=9 Oct 2024}}</ref>

== History ==
=== Foundation ===
The Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) was founded in 2013 by [[Engineer Rashid|Sheikh Abdul Rashid]], commonly referred to as Engineer Rashid, who had previously been an independent member of the [[Legislative Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir]] representing the [[Langate Assembly constituency|Langate]] constituency.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-29 |title=Langate Assembly Election 2024: Constituency profile, past winners, margin, party-wise candidates |url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/jammu-and-kashmir/langate-assembly-elections-2024-constituency-profile-winners-margin-party-wise-candidates-abdul-rashid-sheikh-ghulam-nabi-ganai-2024-08-29-949451 |access-date=2024-09-12 |website=www.indiatvnews.com |language=en}}</ref> Rashid had gained prominence for his views on the [[Kashmir conflict]] and his advocacy for peaceful resolutions to the region's political disputes. AIP was established as an alternative to both the mainstream political parties in Jammu and Kashmir, such as the [[Jammu & Kashmir National Conference|National Conference]] (NC) and the [[Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party|People's Democratic Party]] (PDP), as well as [[separatist movements of India|separatist factions]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-11 |title='Coming To Unite, Not To Divide': Er Rashid Out On Bail For 22 Days For J&K Elections |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/elections/coming-to-unite-not-to-divide-er-rashid-out-on-bail-for-22-days-for-jk-elections |access-date=2024-09-12 |website=Outlook India |language=en}}</ref>

==== Ideology ====
AIP's core ideology revolves around the right to self-determination for the people of [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]], as outlined in [[United Nations resolution]]s. The party calls for a plebiscite to allow the people of the region to decide their future, either with [[India]] or [[Pakistan]] or as an [[Independence|independent state]]. In addition, AIP advocates for [[Demilitarisation|demilitarization]], the removal of laws like the [[Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act|Armed Forces Special Powers Act]] (AFSPA), and an end to [[Human rights|human rights abuses]] by security forces in the region.{{failed verification|date=October 2024}}<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-02 |title=Assembly polls: Er. Rashid's AIP makes political forces restive in Kashmir — The Kashmir Monitor |url=https://www.thekashmirmonitor.net/assembly-polls-er-rashids-aip-makes-political-forces-restive-in-kashmir/ |access-date=2024-09-12 |language=en-US}}</ref> AIP also focuses on improving socio-economic conditions for [[Kashmiris]], addressing unemployment, and ensuring political rights for the people of the region.{{citation needed|date=October 2024}}

== Political activities ==

=== 2014 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly Election ===
The party contested the [[2014 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly election|2014 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly]] elections on multiple seats, with its founder, [[Engineer Rashid]], retaining his seat in [[Langate]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Engineer Rashid's Political Journey: The 'Voice of Langate' – *Greater Kashmir, 2019 |url=https://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/opinion/the-voice-of-langate-engineer-rashid}}</ref> Despite not winning additional seats, AIP emerged as a vocal force within the state legislature.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ali |first=Rifat Fareed, Arbab |title='Vote against jail': How two Modi critics won India election from prison |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/6/14/vote-against-jail-how-two-modi-critics-won-india-election-from-prison |access-date=2024-09-12 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}</ref> During the 2024 assembly elections, they reportedly advocated for the unconditional release of [[political prisoner]]s and a ban on liquor sales as part of their manifesto.<ref name="e137">{{cite web | last=Rashid | first=Hakeem Irfan | title=Jailed Lok Sabha member Engineer Abdul Rashid Sheikh promises jail-free J&K in party manifesto | website=The Economic Times | date=7 Sep 2024 | url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/elections/assembly-elections/jammu-kashmir/jailed-lok-sabha-member-engineer-abdul-rashid-sheikh-promises-jail-free-jk-in-party-manifesto/articleshow/113156590.cms?from=mdr | access-date=10 Oct 2024}}</ref>

=== 2024 Baramulla Lok Sabha election ===
In the 2024 Indian general elections, AIP's leader, [[Engineer Rashid]], contested the [[Baramulla (Lok Sabha constituency)|Baramulla]] parliamentary seat from prison. Rashid had been in detention under the [[Public Safety Act]] (PSA) and was later arrested by the [[National Investigation Agency]] (NIA) in 2019 on charges related to terror funding.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gilani |first=Iftikhar |date=2024-06-22 |title=Kashmir Elections 2024: Engineer Rashid's Surprising Win Signals Political Shift |url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/politics/engineer-rashid-arrested-by-nia-on-money-laundering-charges-wins-from-jail-baramulla-kashmir/article68312092.ece |access-date=2024-09-12 |website=Frontline |language=en}}</ref> Despite his ongoing legal troubles and his inability to actively campaign, Rashid achieved victory, securing the seat with high margin.<ref>{{cite news |last=Mir |first=Rehan Qayoom |date=2024-07-11 |title=An Electoral Stunner! How Engineer Rashid Suddenly Won From Prison |url=https://www.fairobserver.com/world-news/india-news/an-electoral-stunner-how-engineer-rashid-suddenly-won-from-prison/ |access-date=2024-09-16 |website=Fair Observer}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ali |first=Rifat Fareed, Arbab |title='Vote against jail': How two Modi critics won India election from prison |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/6/14/vote-against-jail-how-two-modi-critics-won-india-election-from-prison |access-date=2024-09-12 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}</ref>

=== Role in the Gupkar Declaration ===
In October 2020, AIP became part of the [[People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration]] (PAGD),<ref>{{Cite web |title="Awami Ittihad Party Joins Gupkar Declaration Alliance" – The Wire, 2020 |url=https://thewire.in/politics/peoples-alliance-for-gupkar-declaration}}</ref> a coalition aimed at restoring the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, which had been revoked following the abrogation of [[Article 370 of the Constitution of India|Article 370]]. This alliance opposes the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories and seeks to restore its autonomy.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gupkar Declaration: Latest News, Photos, Videos on Gupkar Declaration |url=https://www.ndtv.com/topic/gupkar-declaration |access-date=2024-09-12 |website=NDTV.com}}</ref>

=== Coalition in 2024 assembly polls ===
In a political development, the Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) led by [[Engineer Rashid]] has formed an alliance with former members of the [[Jamaat-e-Islami Kashmir|Jamaat-e-Islami]] for the [[2024 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly election]], with the party winning from [[Langate]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Engineer Rashid's AIP and former Jamaat members join hands for J&K Assembly polls |website=[[MSN]] |url=https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/India/engineer-rashids-aip-and-former-jamaat-members-join-hands-for-j-k-assembly-polls/ar-AA1qBQX9 |access-date=2024-09-16}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite news | title=Er Rashid's AIP and Jamaat-e-Islami form alliance for Jammu and Kashmir elections | website=[[Muslim Mirror]] | date=2024-09-15 | url=https://muslimmirror.com/er-rashids-aip-and-jamaat-e-islami-form-alliance-for-jammu-and-kashmir-elections/ | access-date=2024-09-16}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Engineer Rashid]]
* [[Kashmir conflict]]
* [[Article 370 of the Constitution of India]]
* [[People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration]]
* [[2024 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly election|Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly elections]]
* [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{official website|https://awamiithadpartyjk.com}}

[[Category:Political parties in Jammu and Kashmir]]
[[Category:Political parties established in 2013]]
[[Category:2013 establishments in Jammu and Kashmir]]

Jammu and Kashmir Awami Ittehad Party - Revision history

Hojjathassanpour2023 at 00:49, 17 April 2026