Opinion | Internal Political Instability in Pakistan and its Impact on J&K

Now ask any Kashmiri youth who once romanticized the slogans of ‘Azadi’, what they see across the border today. Despair, destruction, dictatorship. Certainly not a land of dreams.

I recall sitting with an elder in Kupwara once, a retired teacher who was wise and weathered. We were discussing the ever-present Pakistan factor in Kashmir’s politics when he said something I have never forgotten: “Beta, Pakistan never wanted Kashmir. It only wanted to keep India bleeding.” At that time, I did not quite grasp the depth of his words. But today, as I reflect on Pakistan’s political theatre and the unending chaos within, his words ring more accurate than ever. There was a time when a section of Kashmiris would look across the border and find a misplaced hope in Pakistan, an imagined brotherhood, a narrative of moral support, a fantasy sold under the veil of religion and ideology. But what has unfolded in recent years has shattered that illusion for good. Pakistan today is not just unstable, it is in free fall. And this collapse is not only exposing the farce it built around Kashmir but also reinforcing how much better we are as part of a functioning democracy like India.
The power tussle between Pakistan’s judiciary, military, and politicians is no less than a tragic circus. One day it’s Imran Khan waving the ‘Haqeeqi Azaadi’ slogan from jail, the next day it’s the army-backed establishment installing puppets, all while the economy burns. Inflation is soaring, IMF loans are dictating national policy, and civil unrest is the norm. At the same time, groups like Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) are gaining ground, the Baluch insurgency is intensifying, and religious extremism is rewriting the idea of citizenship altogether. What kind of “model state” does this represent? Now ask any Kashmiri youth who once romanticized the slogans of ‘Azadi’, what they see across the border today. Despair, destruction, dictatorship. Certainly not a land of dreams. I recently met a university student who told me, “When I see how Pakistan treats its people, the Shias, the Baloch, even journalists, I thank God we are on this side.” That one sentence defines the generational shift that’s happening here in Kashmir.
This internal instability in Pakistan has directly impacted J&K in more ways than one. Militancy, once fed and fanned from across the border, is now gasping for air. With Pakistan too distracted by its domestic crises, infiltration has drastically reduced. Intelligence inputs are clear, terror infrastructure across the LoC is crumbling. And meanwhile, here in J&K, peace is slowly becoming the new normal. Schools are functioning, tourists are returning, and development projects are rolling, all this without the looming threat of a Pakistan-sponsored shutdown every Friday. The most symbolic impact, however, lies in the changing mindset. People are now openly rejecting the separatist narrative. Many who once flirted with anti-India sentiments now speak of opportunities, education, and entrepreneurship. As one young man in Baramulla put it: “I don’t want to be the foot soldier of anyone’s war. I want to build something for myself.” This inner awakening among the youth is the biggest blow to Pakistan’s decades-long proxy war.
Even those who once backed separatism are reconsidering. Recently, four separatist-affiliated organisations — including J&K People’s Movement and J&K Tehreek-e-Istiqlal severed their ties with Hurriyat ideology, admitting that the movement brought nothing but bloodshed. Their leaders, once part of a network that destabilised the region, now say openly that they are committed citizens of India. That’s not just a change in tone; it’s a tectonic shift in the emotional geography of Kashmir. Meanwhile, Pakistan continues to burn, literally and metaphorically. From political assassinations to media censorship, from religious minorities under siege to economic meltdowns, it’s becoming a cautionary tale. And for Kashmiris who once looked toward it, it now serves as a reminder of what could have been, had we gone the other way.
The irony is poetic. For decades, Pakistan tried to weaponize Kashmir’s emotions against India. Today, its own implosion is pushing Kashmiris closer to India than ever before, not out of compulsion, but by choice. In a land once clouded by confusion and fear, a new sun of clarity is rising. And while Pakistan’s leaders scramble to save their own skins, Kashmiris are finally beginning to breathe. We are not looking left or right anymore. We are moving forward.

Email: vadiekashmir@gmail.com