(Abdul Basit Alvi)
The governance of Jammu and Kashmir presents a stark dichotomy between the administrative frameworks of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), reflecting divergent approaches to the dignity and rights of the Kashmiri people. Pakistan has fostered a system in AJK characterized by genuine legislative autonomy and political empowerment, most notably through the implementation of the 13th and 15th Amendments. These constitutional reforms shifted executive authority from the federal level to the elected representatives in Muzaffarabad, ensuring that the Prime Minister and the Legislative Assembly hold substantial control over internal affairs such as finance, health, and education. This devolution of power demonstrates a commitment to the will of the governed, allowing the region to maintain a distinct political identity and a vibrant civil society where local leaders are held accountable by their own constituents rather than an external authority.
In contrast, the situation in IIOJK has devolved into what is described as a draconian regime of colonial-style subjugation following India’s unilateral abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A in August 2019. This move stripped the region of its nominal special status and protections for its demographic identity, effectively annexing the territory and placing it under the direct control of New Delhi. The local population is now subjected to harsh laws like the Public Safety Act (PSA) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), which facilitate indefinite detention without trial and the criminalization of political dissent. The region has been transformed into a heavily militarized zone where fundamental civil liberties are suppressed through mass arbitrary arrests, communication blackouts, and the systematic silencing of the press, creating a pervasive environment of fear and state-sponsored oppression.
This profound disparity in governance reveals a fundamental difference in sincerity regarding the welfare and self-determination of the Kashmiri people. While Pakistan’s framework in AJK treats the population as partners in a national cause by protecting their cultural heritage and political rights, India’s actions in IIOJK are marked by egregious human rights violations and an intentional policy of demographic manipulation. By allowing non-Kashmiris to purchase land and settle in the region, India is accused of engaging in settler-colonialism designed to dilute the Muslim-majority character of the territory. Ultimately, the contrast between the empowerment seen in AJK and the brutal occupation of IIOJK highlights a moral imperative for international intervention to address Indian atrocities and support the unequivocal desire of the Kashmiri people to live in freedom.
The difference in sincerity between Pakistan and India could not be more pronounced when one examines the relationship between the governing state and the Kashmiri political will. Pakistan’s sincerity is demonstrated through its consistent diplomatic and moral support for the Kashmiri right to self-determination, as enshrined in the United Nations Security Council Resolution 47 of 1948 . Pakistan does not claim AJK as an integral part of its territory; rather, it views AJK as a liberated part of the disputed state of Jammu and Kashmir, whose final status is yet to be decided by a UN-supervised plebiscite . The autonomy granted to AJK through the 13th and 15th Amendments is a reflection of Pakistan’s principled stance that the Kashmiri people must have the freedom to shape their own destiny. In stark contrast, India’s insincerity is reflected in its refusal to implement the very UN resolutions it once accepted. Having taken the Kashmir dispute to the United Nations in 1948, India subsequently abandoned the promise of a plebiscite and has since illegally declared Kashmir an “integral part” of India through brute force . India’s revocation of Article 370 was an attempt to bury the dispute unilaterally, but it has failed utterly. Rather than bringing peace, the move has intensified the alienation of the Kashmiri people, turning the region into a tinderbox that the international community recognizes as a potential nuclear flashpoint . The insincerity of India is further exposed by the fact that even within the puppet political structures it has created in IIOJK, the demand for the restoration of autonomy is undeniable. In November 2024, the newly elected legislative assembly in IIOJK, dominated by parties opposed to the BJP, passed a resolution demanding the restoration of the region’s special status, calling upon the Indian government to initiate dialogue with elected representatives . This internal rebellion against New Delhi’s diktat proves that the Kashmiri people have not accepted the 2019 annexation. However, the Indian response was swift and ruthless; Prime Minister Modi boasted that “no power” in the world could restore Article 370, effectively telling the Kashmiris that their democratic voice is irrelevant and that they will be ruled by New Delhi’s bayonets whether they like it or not . This is the behavior of a state that has no interest in justice or the welfare of the Kashmiri people—only a hunger for territorial expansion and the suppression of Muslim identity.
The love of the Kashmiri people for Pakistan and their desire to merge with it is not a propaganda slogan; it is a lived reality rooted in shared identity, religion, culture, and a common struggle against oppression. On the Pakistani side of the LoC, the people of AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan live in peace and prosperity, enjoying economic development, educational opportunities, and political freedom. They proudly wave the Pakistani flag, celebrate Pakistani national days, and send their youth to serve in the Pakistan Armed Forces. The bond between AJK and Pakistan is not forced; it is organic, built on decades of mutual sacrifice and support. In IIOJK, despite facing the worst military occupation in modern history, the desire for freedom and accession to Pakistan remains the dominant political aspiration. Every act of Indian brutality—every bullet fired, every house demolished, every child detained—only strengthens the resolve of the Kashmiri people to resist Indian rule. India has tried to break this spirit through a strategy of repression and demographic change, but the soul of Kashmir refuses to be crushed. The people of IIOJK look across the border and see in Pakistan a genuine homeland, a country that respects their dignity and fights for their cause at every international forum, from the United Nations to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) . They see that Pakistan has never recognized Indian sovereignty over their land and never will . They see that while India imposes curfews and cuts the internet, Pakistan has given AJK the right to govern itself. This stark contrast has not gone unnoticed by the international community. Human rights organizations, the European Parliament, and the United Nations have all condemned India’s actions in IIOJK, calling for the restoration of human rights and the implementation of self-determination . Yet, India, emboldened by its economic size and military power, continues to ignore these calls, hiding behind the false rhetoric of “bilateralism” while simultaneously refusing to hold any meaningful dialogue with Pakistan or the Kashmiri leadership .
Given this reality, the world has a moral and legal obligation to act. The international community can no longer remain silent while India perpetuates a slow-motion genocide against the Kashmiri people. The United Nations Security Council must enforce its own resolutions, which have been gathering dust for over seven decades, and mandate a plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir to allow the people to decide their own future. The world must urgently urge India to cease its state-sponsored terrorism against unarmed civilians, to repeal the draconian laws that suppress freedom, to release all political prisoners, to reverse the demographic changes brought about by illegal land grabs, and to allow UN observers to monitor the human rights situation on the ground . The current status quo is unsustainable. The Indian occupation is not a solution; it is a ticking time bomb that threatens not only South Asia but global peace. Pakistan has repeatedly shown its commitment to peace and dialogue, even offering independent investigations into incidents of violence and supporting mediation efforts to de-escalate tensions . However, Pakistan has also made it clear that it will never abandon the Kashmiri people. The suspension of the Simla Agreement by Pakistan was a strategic recalibration to re-internationalize the dispute, signaling that the era of futile bilateralism is over . Pakistan has successfully exposed India’s false claims of being a democracy by highlighting the systematic persecution of Muslims and the suppression of dissent within IIOJK and across India . By comparing the autonomy of AJK with the tyranny of IIOJK, the truth shines brightly: Pakistan is the sincere guardian of Kashmiri rights, while India is the ruthless occupier. The world must take notice of the atrocities and human rights violations in IIOJK and must act decisively. The Kashmiri people have already made their choice. They love Pakistan, they want to live with Pakistan, and no amount of Indian brutality will ever change that. The winds of change are blowing across South Asia, and the people of Kashmir are ready to finally breathe the air of freedom under the flag of Pakistan. It is time for the international community to stand on the right side of history and support the Kashmiri people’s inalienable right to self-determination.
