Following independence in 1947 and the creation of Pakistan, the newly formed state of Jammu and Kashmir was attacked by the newly formed state, dividing the state into two parts, with Pakistan occupying one-third of the territory. The story of how this division occurred after the ceasefire between the armies of the two countries in 1948 has been retold many times, and there’s no point in retelling it again and again. However, it is a historical fact that Pakistan has held a portion of Jammu and Kashmir under its control ever since Maharaja Hari Singh merged his entire kingdom into the Indian Union. Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of this state, and its people share the same culture as those of India’s Jammu and Kashmir.
However, after taking over this territory, the Pakistani rulers began calling it Azad Kashmir and established a nominal government there that functions as a puppet of the rulers in Islamabad. Moreover, people were brought from other parts of Pakistan to settle in this area to suppress the Kashmiri people and their culture. Since 1948, the Pakistani government has been inflicting atrocities on the Kashmiris, and locals have even been gunned down for protesting. Pakistan has turned occupied Kashmir into a haven for terrorists and has established terrorist camps in this region. Pakistan frequently uses this region to carry out terrorism in India. Pakistan has even mute the Kashmiri language of the people here and has brought in district administrators from outside who have no knowledge of the region. The government in Islamabad wants to enslave the Kashmiris by imposing Urdu on them. It should be noted that the rulers of Islamabad did the same thing in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). The Pakistani rulers imposed Urdu on the Bengali language of the people here, leading to the region’s formation as Bangladesh in 1971. But Pakistan-occupied Kashmir faces more than just a language problem, but also a host of civic problems. Not only are the people here denied adequate employment opportunities, but they are also deprived of basic civic amenities.
The Pakistani army and police continue to oppress them daily. They hold nominal elections, and Islamabad selectively appoints its own operatives to positions. Therefore, when the people of this region often compare their situation to that of the people of Indian Kashmir, they feel a deep sense of resentment. Because Kashmiris in India breathe freely and exercise their civil rights under the purview of the Indian Constitution. However, it is difficult for Kashmiris in Pakistan to even express their demands democratically. Whenever they stage a protest, it is crushed by the police and army, and jails are filled. Therefore, we sometimes read reports of people in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) raising slogans in support of India. The way Pakistani rulers often trample on human rights in their occupied Kashmir can only be matched by countries under military rule, even though Pakistan supposedly enjoys democracy. The current situation is that for the past few days, the United Awami Action Committee of the region has been staging a strike or protest in PoK, demanding improved conditions and better public facilities.
To end this protest, the Pakistani rulers have crossed all limits, openly firing bullets at the people, resulting in the deaths of six people. When the protest turned violent, three policemen also became targets of the anger and were killed. These are official figures, while unofficial figures are said to be much higher. Following the Action Committee’s call, all commercial establishments across the region remained closed and communication was disrupted. When citizens’ patience broke, people resorted to violence in several cities of occupied Kashmir. The injuries of 172 police personnel in violent clashes between police and people in various cities indicate the extent of public anger against the police. However, 50 civilians were also injured. The strike was so successful that life was completely disrupted, and roads deserted, from Muzaffarabad to Dhirkot, Mirpur, Poonch, Neelam, Bhimberv, and Palandi. Although Pakistani media reports that the Action Committee members became violent, particularly in Dhirkot, where three police officers were killed, the people of occupied Kashmir have endured police brutality for the past 76 years, witnessing their paradise-like region transform into hell. Pakistani rulers have granted special civil rights to the non-Kashmiri-speaking so-called elite living in this region. A 12% reservation in local services is given to those who have migrated from other parts of Pakistan and settled in the valley. The Action Committee is demanding that this reservation be abolished and equal and free education be provided to all residents of the region. Free healthcare should also be available to every citizen. These demands are completely legitimate, as there is no industry or business in the region. The intention behind this is that Pakistan wants to keep Kashmiris as slaves.
