Opinion | Kashmir Speaks for the Silenced Voices of PoJK and Gilgit-Baltistan

We have already borne the bitter consequences of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in Kashmir, a scourge that robbed an entire generation of peace, education, opportunities and countless innocent lives. We cannot stand by and watch history repeat itself with our brethren living across the Line of Control. It is time for the international community, the United Nations and global human rights organisations to wake up to the genuine aspirations and grievances of the people of Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. Their voices deserve to be heard, their rights deserve to be protected, and their future must not be sacrificed at the altar of political expediency.

In an age of mobile phones that can relay events to the other side of the world in minutes, the challenge of containing local concerns within geographical limits has increased. Now social media sites rapidly send images, videos and eyewitness reports from conflict zones, enabling regular people to see what is happening for themselves rather than relying just on government claims. Pakistan-held Jammu & Kashmir (PoJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan are no different. The stories and video recordings emanating from these locations, especially those chronicling public protests, claims of excessive force and calls for more political and economic rights, are increasingly coming under scrutiny among the people of Jammu and Kashmir. To many Kashmiris, this is not simply another foreign news story. The people on the other side of the Line of Control have a common history, culture and legacy with us. Not surprisingly, their issues are interesting, and often sympathetic. Conditions in these regions and the voices of those who claim they have long been silenced are increasingly shaping debates in homes, colleges and in public spaces. This article tries to register such public sentiments. It reflects the Kashmiri people’s views on the events in PoJK and Gilgit-Baltistan, their concerns about the alleged treatment of civilians, and their hopes for a future in which the people of these regions can live with dignity, security and the opportunity to create their own destiny free from violence and intimidation.

Syed Showkat, a Regular Columnist

The plight of the people of Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) is neither a stand-alone or a new case. It’s a pattern that has been going on for decades. Ironically, Pakistan is an Islamic nation that preaches justice and brotherhood, yet the people under its rule in these regions continue to suffer from political marginalisation, economic exploitation and persecution of dissent whenever they dare to raise their voice. The latest example is the fight over the 12 designated seats in the Legislative Assembly of PoJK for the refugees living in Pakistan and not for the people who genuinely live there. This structure, protesters have long maintained, dilutes the political voice of the local population and gives Islamabad more influence over the province. The Supreme Court’s decision in June to uphold the reserved seats sparked protests, arrests, skirmishes with security forces and internet restrictions, instead of addressing these concerns. The elite opted to repress its own rather than listen to them. This is not the first time that the people of PoJK and GB have been deprived of their rights. We have seen public discontent over energy rates, wheat subsidies and the exploitation of the region’s hydropower resources with no benefits trickling down to the local populace over and again. The way the Awami Action Committee members have been treated, including the detention of its leaders and the crackdown on nonviolent protesters, has only strengthened the view that opposition is dealt with force rather than dialogue. As a Kashmiri, I can’t be apathetic to the agony of our brethren beyond the LoC. They deserve political representation and economic justice and the basic freedoms that should be provided by all societies. The international community cannot afford to be a mute spectator any longer, while the voices of the people of PoJK and Gilgit-Baltistan are being continuously stifled. Their dreams deserve attention and their call for dignity in life deserves to be heard.

Firdous Ahmad, a Human Rights Activist

I have been following the developments in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) closely for the last five years as I have been working on the issues of human rights. It’s really upsetting what’s happening there. The people of these regions continue to want political representation, economic justice and the ability to speak up, yet too often their requests are responded with force rather than conversation. One of the most prominent examples is the issue of the 12 reserved seats in the Legislative Assembly of PoJK for refugees living in Pakistan rather than the people living in the territory itself. This choice to keep these seats was reaffirmed despite enduring public resistance, sparking extensive protests. The complaints were met with arrests, internet shutdown and massive security crackdown instead of listening to the grievances of the people. More recently, Rawalakot saw violent conflicts that killed several lives, leading to mass arrests and sedition cases being filed against leaders of the Joint Awami Action Committee. This isn’t how a government responds to citizens demanding their democratic rights. The continuing detention and prosecution of activists such as Advocate Ehsan Ali, Engineer Mehboob Wali, Masood ur Rehman and others from Awami Action Committee sends out a disturbing message. When lawyers, social activists and community leaders are arrested under anti-terror laws or incarcerated repeatedly for mobilizing nonviolent protests, it raises serious concerns about the narrowing space for dissent and democratic expression. Their sole “crime” is to challenge policies they think are unjust. Being a Kashmiri, I cannot be apathetic to the plight of our brethren beyond the Line of Control. Their voices should be heard, not drowned out. The issues arising out of PoJK and Gilgit-Baltistan need to be given significantly greater attention by the international community particularly the United Nations and global human rights organisations. “People there deserve dignity, justice and the right to express their aspirations without fear of intimidation or reprisal.”

Faizan Faiz, Student Activist

I am a young Kashmiri and quite often hear Pakistan promoting itself as the self-proclaimed champion of Kashmiris. But when I look beyond the Line of Control, I see a very different reality. If Islamabad actually cared for the welfare of Kashmiris, why are the voices of the people of Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) still being met with arrests, internet blackouts and criminal charges instead of dialogue? For decades, Pakistan has been using the rhetoric of “self-determination” before the world community, but seems unable to allow even nonviolent opposition in the territory under its own authority. A case in point is the current dispute over the reservation of 12 seats in the PoJK Legislative Assembly for refugees living in Pakistan instead of citizens residing in the region itself. Instead of democratic engagement, those ordinary folks who challenged the choice faced crackdowns, arrests and bans. If the voice of the people really important, why is it feared? The Gilgit-Baltistan story is no less alarming. The region is rich in water, minerals and strategic importance and has seen recurring protests over control of natural resources, hydropower royalties and land rights. Instead of redressing these problems, well-known speakers such as Advocate Ehsan Ali, Engineer Mehboob Wali and other leaders of the Awami Action Committee have been repeatedly picked up under anti-terrorism laws. Social activist Yawar Abbas’ death in 2025 also aroused concerns within the civil society over the safety of individuals who publicly question the authorities. These are not the activities of a state that feels secure in the democratic discourse; they are the conduct of a regime that is uncomfortable with opposition. The hypocrisy is what gets me the most. Pakistan wants the world to listen to the words of the Kashmiris, yet when Kashmiris under its own rule dare to speak up about political rights, economic fairness or the exploitation of their resources, their voices are too often disregarded or silenced. Principles are not location-dependent. Democracy cannot be a matter of speeches elsewhere, while criticism at home is a crime. PoJK and Gilgit-Baltistan need more than just symbolic rhetoric. They are entitled to real political representation, the liberty to speak out without fear and the privilege of sharing in the enormous natural resources of their own country. As a Kashmiri, I feel their dreams ought to be heard, not crushed. Where a government sees nonviolent attempts to obtain rights as treachery, it cannot hope to be considered legitimate.

Advocate Aatif Lone, Advocate

In my work as an advocate, I have always thought that the legitimacy of any administration is based on the consent of its people and the safeguarding of their fundamental rights. Unfortunately, the governance structure in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) is one where many of the most critical decisions impacting the lives of the local people are ultimately made in Islamabad. That is a topic of grave concern. One area that needs more international attention is the constitutional structure itself. In PoJK, any candidate wishing to stand elections had to take an oath of allegiance to the accession of the region to Pakistan. Such a condition effectively bars people who have a different constitutional position from participating in the democratic process, regardless of one’s political persuasion. Democracy only works when it has a variety of opinions not when people are only allowed to participate if they agree with one political opinion. Another disquieting picture is that of Gilgit-Baltistan. The region, with its huge strategic importance and its abundance of natural riches, including water supplies, glaciers and mineral reserves, has been lacking the full constitutional status that many of its inhabitants have sought for years. Governments have pledged improvements for decades but the issue over real constitutional rights, legislative authority and local control over resources remains unresolved. People will still feel alienated from decisions on their land and resources, and development cannot be defined just by roads and infrastructure. I am also worried about the dwindling room for independent views. Journalists, attorneys, students and members of civil society who ask questions about public policy are often subject to legal pressure or administrative constraints. When criticism is not perceived as a form of constructive democratic engagement but as antagonism, institutions lose public trust and the rule of law eventually suffers. Pakistan regularly raises issues of democracy, human rights and rule of law in international fora. Such ideas only carry credibility when they are applied consistently within its own governed territory. The people of PoJK and Gilgit-Baltistan are entitled to representative institutions, constitutional clarity, judicial independence and the right to express criticism without fear. These are hardly extraordinary requests. These are the least assurances that all democratic societies should offer to their citizens.

Conclusion

The voices emerging from Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan cannot be disregarded as isolated instances or passing political differences any more. These are the hopes of ordinary people who desire dignity, justice, meaningful political involvement and the right to speak without fear. We know, as Kashmiris, the tragic effects of long-standing strife, repression and brutality. Our own history shows how a whole generation can be denied opportunity, education, livelihoods and peace when instability becomes the norm. The Pakistan-Sponsored terrorism was our biggest enemy. This is why we make an urgent appeal to the United Nations, to international human rights organisations and to each and every institution devoted to the safeguarding of fundamental freedoms: the moment to act is now. The people of PoJK and Gilgit-Baltistan have issues and they demand an even-handed consideration and persistent international engagement. Their views must be heard, their rights protected and any claims of excessive force or abuses of civil liberties objectively investigated. For decades, Pakistan has tried to position itself as a champion of the Kashmiri cause before the world. That claim will remain a hollow one as long as individuals under its own administration continue to express concerns about political representation, civil freedoms and economic justice. A government cannot convincingly champion rights overseas if there are reservations about the protection of those same rights at home.

As Kashmiris, we do not want to see another generation caught up in fear, uncertainty and the effects of political repression. We have seen the toll that violence, extremism and long-lasting instability has taken out of our own society. No community should have to suffer the same fate. The people of PoJK and Gilgit-Baltistan deserve a future of dignity, not fear, a future of conversation, not compulsion, a future of justice, not silence. History will judge not just those who sought to silence the voices of ordinary people, but also those who decided to stand mute when those voices screamed out to be heard.

Email: soulofkashmir1@gmail.com