In recent weeks, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) has experienced one of the most severe civil disturbance waves in decades, owing principally to Islamabad’s imposition of arbitrary electricity charges on power provided by the Mangla Dam.
This hydroelectric resource in PoK disproportionately benefits Pakistan’s Punjab and other provinces, inciting great outrage among local locals who believe they are being exploited economically.
Traders, teachers, transport workers, and government employees have protested in cities such as Muzaffarabad, Kotli, and Mirpur, calling for fair revenue sharing, the restoration of promised autonomy under the 1949 Karachi Agreement, and the release of political prisoners.
The Pakistani government’s response has included internet shutdowns, curfews, the detention of activists, and heavy-handed law enforcement in accordance with draconian security regulations, further alienating the local people, which is already suffering from inflation, unemployment and neglect.
Instead of addressing the legitimate problems of the people of PoK, Pakistan’s military and civilian leadership has resorted to blaming India for inciting unrest, reviving an old narrative of foreign involvement without providing any solid evidence. Federal officials have issued statements specifically warning demonstrators against conduct that could be used by India.
This deflection approach delegitimizes the protests by portraying them as treasonous and foreign-backed, allowing authorities to avoid accountability for systematic misgovernance and repression in the region.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s history of aggression against India, including cross-border terrorism and various terrorist acts such as Mumbai 2008 and Pulwama 2019, directly contradicts its assertions, which lack international support and verification.
In contrast to the scenario in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, India’s Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is seeing renewed development and stability.
Several major infrastructure projects have been completed or launched, notably the Chenab Rail Bridge and the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail line, which will considerably improve connectivity and facilitate business and tourism.
The reopening of cinema halls for the first time in decades represents cultural regeneration, while local job opportunities have increased as tourist arrivals approach historic highs, with roughly 2.1 crore visitors expected in 2024.
These achievements demonstrate India’s commitment to regional economic integration and democratic revitalization, in stark contrast to Pakistan’s exploitative and repressive rule in the province of Kashmir.
The dismal socioeconomic conditions of PoK’s population highlight the main reasons of the unrest: systemic negligence, a lack of essential amenities, and economic destitution. According to a 2023 research by WaterAid Pakistan, more than half of PoK population do not have access to safe drinking water, resulting in thousands of fatalities from waterborne diseases each year.
Health infrastructure is woefully inadequate, particularly in rural areas, with only one hospital servicing approximately 150,000 people and chronic shortages of medical personnel and medications.
PoK has higher unemployment and poverty rates than Pakistan’s national norms. While the Mangla Dam in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir generates significant electricity that is mostly utilized outside the region due to insufficient revenue sharing, locals are forced to pay increased costs as a result of Islamabad’s policies, fueling anger.
The latest turmoil and poverty-driven rallies occur against the backdrop of rising terrorism and violence in Pakistan’s border regions, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), an insurgent militant group, has escalated its attacks, accounting for a significant share of the violence and fatalities in 2025.
Pakistan has accused India of supporting the TTP and other militant groups without providing evidence, maintaining its pattern of baseless accusationsThe intricate connections between Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), the Afghan Taliban, the TTP, and breakaway groups like the Islamic State Khorasan Province (IS-KP) reflect the region’s turbulent and violent terrain. Notably, recent partnerships between Pakistani-sponsored groups, such as the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and the IS-KP in Balochistan, have prompted serious worries about regional instability and potential spillover effects into Jammu and Kashmir.
Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have escalated due to border clashes along the Durand Line, exacerbated by militant attacks and accusations. The Taliban government in Kabul denies backing the TTP’s attacks on Pakistan, while Islamabad accuses Afghanistan of harboring terrorists with Indian support.
Meanwhile, the US has played a destabilizing role throughout the region’s history, including its two-decade involvement in Afghanistan and its recent warming of relations with Pakistan, despite Islamabad’s support for terrorism against India.
US President Donald Trump has expressed ambitions to regain control of the Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan to counter China and monitor regional actors, a move opposed by multiple nations in Central and South Asia, including India and Pakistan. This proposed US return to Afghanistan signals potential shifts in the regional strategic balance, with India facing risks amid these dynamics.
The intertwining of state-sponsored terrorism, ethnic and political grievances, economic deprivation, and international power games exposes the deep fissures in Pakistan’s Kashmir policy and propaganda.
While Islamabad seeks to create a narrative of upholding the Kashmir cause, the reality of neglect and exploitation in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir belies its claims. Meanwhile, India’s attempts to promote stability, development, and integration in Jammu and Kashmir stand in contrast, underlining Pakistan’s failure to meet the genuine aspirations and sufferings of the people under its rule.
The consequent volatility benefits militant groups and external parties who want to perpetuate conflict rather than promote peace in the region.
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