Fri, Jul 31, 2026
PoJK: Years Of Neglect Snowballing Into Movement
Soaring inflation, high electricity tariffs, and high costs for staple subsidised goods have led to the massive protests in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK)
Jul 31, 2026 · 4 min read
The deadly crackdown on protesters in the ongoing massive protests in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) may not have captured the attention of international media, but given the nature of the repression used to quell dissent, it cannot be dismissed as an internal matter. Decades of neglect are snowballing into a movement that may be akin to the Mukti Bahini struggle of 1971. Pakistan runs the risk of losing control this time over a territory which, to begin with, was never theirs.
State Of The Economy
Despite the autonomy granted on paper, Pakistan-administered Kashmir has been arbitrarily ruled by Pakistan since Partition. The Karachi Agreement in 1949, followed by the 1974 constitution and the Northern Areas Council Legal Framework Order, meant that Islamabad dictates all matters in PoJK, which comprises “Azad Jammu and Kashmir” and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB).
PoJK, over the past few years, has been engulfed in unrest, driven by a grassroots movement over economic hardships and entrenched political structures. The Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), a coalition of traders, activists, and civil society groups, has been spearheading the protests since 2023; and the economic grievances have evolved into a broader political struggle.
Soaring inflation, high electricity tariffs, and high costs for staple subsidised goods have triggered the massive protests. Only one hospital exists for 1.5 lakh people, while 50% of PoJK’s population lacks access to clean drinking water, leading to over 3,000 deaths annually from waterborne diseases. Besides, 80% of rural roads are either unpaved or in poor condition, leading to frequent landslides and road blockages during rains.
Mangla Dam Construction: Over 100,000 Residents Displaced
The construction of the Mangla Dam led to the displacement of over 100,000 residents of PoJK, while 80% of the electricity generated from it is sent to Pakistan, leaving PoJK with a severe power shortage. No revenue share is given to PoJK from the electricity sold.
Despite generating significant energy, local communities have not seen substantial economic benefits, especially from the Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project (2018), which cost Pakistan $3.5 billion, but supplies little to no electricity to PoJK. The region suffered environmental damage from the dam, including soil erosion, while its rich mineral resources are exploited by private companies often facilitated by the Pakistani military.
In PoJK, the Pakistan military has seized over 50,000 acres of agricultural land, repurposing it for military use or leasing it to large commercial entities. In the Jhelum Valley, 2,000 acres of fertile land have been converted into military installations. In Muzaffarabad, 5,000 acres of productive farmland have been repurposed for military purposes, further encroaching on the region's agricultural base.
PoJK attracts over one million tourists annually; yet, local businesses receive only 20% of the tourism revenue.
Fragile Economic Base
PoJK suffers from a narrow and fragile economic base. Industrial activity is minimal, employment opportunities are scarce, and the region remains heavily dependent on federal subsidies. Rising living costs, particularly for electricity and essential goods, have further strained households. This is fertile ground for the recruitment of terrorists.
Pakistan has established an elaborate infrastructure for the recruitment, indoctrination, and training of terrorists on its territories and territories under its control, to support its policy of sponsoring cross-border terrorism. The Pakistan military has been running terror camps in PoJK through charity organisations such as the Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation (FIF), Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), Idara Khidmat-e-Khalq, and Al-Rashid Trust. Terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) comprises active launch pads, training camps, and command hubs utilised by militant groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), and Hizbul Mujahideen. Key operational locations in PoJK include Muzaffarabad and Kotli, which have historically functioned as staging areas for cross-border activities.
But reservations from residents in PoJK against terror infrastructure have been on the rise. In 2019, a peaceful protest in Muzaffarabad was organised, with residents holding banners that read, "No more violence in our land" or "We want peace, not militancy."
The situation in PoJK is worsening that the international community will be compelled to take cognisance of the developments in the most neglected region of South Asia.
(The writer is a commentator on geopolitics. Views expressed are personal.)
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