This article is more than just a collection of data; it is my way of staging a protest against the brutal forces of Pakistan that engineer violence and perpetuate brutality against our people in POJK. As Kashmiris, we have never accepted the ISI-backed terrorism imposed upon our homeland, and we will never accept it in the illegally occupied POJK.
Israar Shahid
Ever since I started writing about the sufferings of our people in Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK), I have always tried to highlight the stark contrast in the developmental trajectories of both sides—J&K under India and POJK under Pakistan. Since 1947, this territory has remained under brutal control, and even today, it lacks basic infrastructure, employment opportunities, and equal rights.I am deeply grateful to the then Maharaja and the brave soldiers of the Sikh and Kumaon Regiments who valiantly fought against the Kabaili raiders from Pakistan, ensuring that we breathe in free air today. However, that does not make me blind to the plight of our own people who remain trapped under Pakistan’s illegal occupation. They continue to suffer systemic oppression, economic deprivation, and denial of fundamental rights. While I can use my voice to highlight their struggles, the role of the international community in addressing this grave humanitarian crisis is paramount.Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK) stands as a glaring example of neglect, oppression, and broken promises. For decades, Islamabad has exploited the region politically, economically, and strategically, while its people have been treated as mere pawns in a larger geopolitical game. Unlike Jammu and Kashmir, which has witnessed unprecedented development and empowerment under India’s governance, POJK remains trapped in poverty, lack of infrastructure, and systematic repression. The contrast between the two regions is staggering, exposing Pakistan’s hollow claims of being a benefactor to Kashmiris.
Education in POJK is deliberately kept substandard to ensure that the population remains dependent and voiceless. The region has only six universities for a population of over 4.5 million, with no internationally recognized institutions. Students have to migrate to Pakistan for even basic higher education, where they face discrimination, financial struggles, and systemic exclusion. There is no IIT, no IIM, no AIIMS—no future. The youth of POJK are left with broken dreams, forced either into low-paying jobs or radicalization. In contrast, Jammu and Kashmir has seen an education boom with the establishment of IITs, IIMs, and AIIMS, along with world-class research institutions. Scholarships and career development programs have opened new horizons for Kashmiri students, while their counterparts in POJK are denied even the basic right to quality education.The healthcare system in POJK is equally disastrous. The region has only 1,066 doctors for 4.5 million people, far below the WHO’s recommended ratio. The situation is so dire that patients often have to travel hundreds of kilometers to Rawalpindi or Islamabad for even minor treatments. Hospitals lack basic facilities, from ICU beds to cancer treatment centers, leaving people at the mercy of fate. Pregnant women in remote areas frequently die on the way to hospitals due to poor roads and lack of emergency medical care. While Jammu and Kashmir has two AIIMS, several medical colleges, and rapidly improving healthcare infrastructure, POJK remains stuck in an endless cycle of medical neglect and government apathy.
POJK has also become a battleground for human rights violations, with women bearing the brunt of systemic oppression. The case of Tanveer Bibi is a chilling example of this brutality. A resident of POJK, Tanveer was tortured and killed by Pakistan’s security forces after she dared to raise her voice against injustice. Her only crime was speaking out against the atrocities committed against the people of POJK, but like many others before her, she was silenced in cold blood. The Pakistani establishment has created an environment where women who demand justice are either killed, jailed, or forced into silence. Her case is not an exception—it is a pattern, a reflection of how Islamabad views the people of POJK as expendable.Infrastructure development in POJK is almost non-existent. Roads remain incomplete decades after being promised, and entire villages are still cut off due to the lack of connectivity. Electricity shortages last for days, and even in major towns like Muzaffarabad, people face long power cuts, crumbling roads, and unreliable water supply. Pakistan has repeatedly looted POJK’s resources, exploiting its rivers, forests, and minerals without reinvesting a single penny into the region’s development. The Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project, which was meant to uplift POJK, generates electricity for Pakistan’s cities while its own villages suffer 16-hour-long power cuts. The people of POJK have been left in darkness—both figuratively and literally.
Tourism, which could have been a significant source of employment and economic upliftment, is deliberately kept ignored. Rawalakot, often called the “Pearl Valley” for its breathtaking beauty, has the potential to become a leading tourist destination. With its lush green meadows, pristine lakes, and snow-capped mountains, Rawalakot could have been developed into a world-class hill station like Gulmarg or Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir. However, Pakistan’s establishment has deliberately neglected the region, ensuring that the tourism industry remains non-existent. The reason is simple—if Rawalakot’s tourism flourishes, POJK will gain economic independence, and that is something Islamabad cannot afford. Instead of investing in hotels, resorts, and infrastructure, Pakistan has turned the region into a dumping ground for terror camps, destroying its potential and keeping its people in economic chains.
Political suppression in POJK is worse than in any other region controlled by Pakistan. While Jammu and Kashmir thrives with democracy, regular elections, and political participation, POJK exists under the firm grip of military rule. The so-called “Prime Minister” of POJK is nothing more than a puppet who takes orders directly from Islamabad. Journalists who dare to expose corruption, human rights abuses, or military excesses are either jailed, tortured, or mysteriously disappear. Protests against inflation, unemployment, and power shortages are met with bullets and mass arrests. The Pakistani establishment, which speaks of “Kashmir’s freedom,” has ensured that the people of POJK remain shackled in oppression, unable to even demand their basic rights.POJK has become a hub for terrorism, where terror factories operate under the protection of Pakistan’s intelligence agencies. Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and Hizbul Mujahideen run open training camps, radicalizing the local youth and using them as cannon fodder for Pakistan’s proxy war. While Jammu and Kashmir moves towards peace and stability, POJK continues to be flooded with radical seminaries instead of schools, with weapons instead of books. Villagers near these camps live in constant fear of Indian surgical strikes, Pakistani military raids, and militant violence. The people of POJK are not only suffering under Pakistan’s misrule but are also being used as human shields in a war they never chose to fight.The international community, which often raises concerns about human rights worldwide, has largely ignored the plight of POJK’s people. Global organizations like the United Nations, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch have documented the abuses, yet their responses have been weak and inconsistent. Countries that claim to uphold democratic values and human rights must hold Pakistan accountable for its decades of repression, resource exploitation, and suppression of fundamental freedoms in POJK. The world must stop viewing the region through Pakistan’s propaganda lens and recognize the urgent need for intervention, humanitarian aid, and support for self-governance. Turning a blind eye only emboldens Pakistan’s military establishment to continue its brutal policies unchecked.
This article is more than just a compilation of data; it is my form of protest against Pakistan’s brutal regime, which orchestrates violence and perpetuates oppression in POJK. While I may not resist with arms, I will wield my words as a weapon against this injustice. Writing is my resistance, and through it, I seek to amplify the voices of the silenced. As Kashmiris, we have never accepted ISI-backed terrorism in our homeland, nor will we ever accept it in the illegally occupied POJK. We can only hope that global organizations committed to human rights and justice will finally hold Islamabad accountable and help the people of POJK reclaim their rights—allowing them to live with the peace, dignity, and freedom they rightfully deserve. For decades, Pakistan has tried to mislead the world with false narratives about Kashmir, but the truth is now undeniable. While Jammu and Kashmir is moving forward with development, democracy, and peace, POJK is sinking deeper into crisis. It has no economic future, no political rights, no voice, and no hope. Pakistan sought Kashmir but never Kashmiris, and nowhere is this more evident than in the forgotten land of POJK.
The writer is a student activist and can be reached at [email protected]
