For nearly eight decades, Pakistan has peddled a grand illusion before the world-a deceitful narrative of being the “guardian” of the people of so-called Azad Kashmir. But behind this façade of “freedom” lies a grim reality: systematic repression, exploitation, and denial of the most basic human rights to the people living under its illegal occupation. The very word ‘Azad’ stands mocked when the population of Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir is brutalised for merely demanding bread, electricity, and freedom of expression. What can be a bigger travesty than the fact that those who raise their voices against injustice are silenced through force? The recent protests in POJK, met with brutal crackdowns, are a chilling reminder of Pakistan’s despotic governance in the region. Instead of being heard, the protesters are met with bullets. This is not governance – it is occupation in its most naked form.
Since 1947, Pakistan’s obsession has not been with uplifting its people but with confronting India. While India, guided by democratic ideals, has invested its energy in nation-building and inclusive development, Pakistan has squandered its potential on military adventurism and hate politics. The outcome is evident: in India’s Jammu and Kashmir, roads, schools, universities, and hospitals are growing rapidly; in POJK, education, healthcare, and basic infrastructure remain alien concepts. The only “gift” Pakistan has offered this land is terrorism – a deliberate strategy to keep the region unstable and dependent on the military establishment.
Ironically, a country which has never allowed a single Prime Minister to complete a full term dares to lecture others on democracy. Pakistan’s democracy has been a puppet show in the hands of generals and clerics, and its people continue to pay the price. The economic bankruptcy it faces today mirrors its moral bankruptcy – both the result of decades of misplaced priorities.
India’s stand at the United Nations, articulated by Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, once again underscores the stark truth that Jammu and Kashmir, including areas under Pakistani occupation, is and will always remain an integral part of India. The only unresolved issue is the illegal occupation by Pakistan, which continues to suppress the people of POJK through force and fear. The Indian envoy rightly called upon Pakistan to end the grave human rights abuses in these areas, where people are in open revolt against the occupying forces.
The contrast between the two sides of the Line of Control could not be sharper. On India’s side, the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing transformation – infrastructure projects worth hundreds of crores, rapid tourism growth, empowerment of women, and a renewed sense of peace and normalcy. Across the border in POJK, poverty, disillusionment, and state-sponsored repression define daily life. The plight of the people in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir remains one of the most ignored humanitarian crises of our time. Decades of repression, censorship, and economic neglect have left the region impoverished and voiceless. Pakistan’s continued exploitation and militarisation of POJK expose its hollow claims of democracy and self-determination, demanding urgent international attention and moral accountability.
Pakistan must realise that confrontations with India will lead nowhere. Its empty coffers and shrinking credibility are testimony enough that its policies have failed miserably. Instead of perpetuating violence and falsehood, it must focus on providing education, jobs, healthcare, and freedom to the people of POJK. It must also stop using the region as a breeding ground for terrorism-a menace that has not only hurt India but also devoured Pakistan from within.
The world can no longer remain a mute spectator to the tragedy unfolding in POJK. It is time for the international community to hold Pakistan accountable for the crimes it commits against people. India’s message at the UN is clear and consistent-peace can never be built on repression and lies. POJK rightfully belongs to India, and sooner or later, justice will prevail. Until then, Pakistan would do well to abandon its regressive path and start treating the people of POJK not as pawns in its geopolitical games, but as human beings deserving of dignity, democracy, and development. Pakistan has no option except to accept reality.
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