Opinion | Nights in PoJK and Nights in Kashmir

What comes to our mind when we hear the word night? Obviously, calmness, silence, sleep, peace, and comfort. These are universal associations. We go about our daily tasks and run our errands. Everyone has responsibilities according to their age and profession. A student attends school, a teacher teaches, a journalist reports, a doctor treats patients, and so on. But what is common among all of them? They eventually call it a day, finish their work, have their meals, and drift off to bed for a peaceful night’s sleep. They wake up fresh the next morning, ready to repeat their daily routines.

Having said that, isn’t it strange, yet painful, to witness how a region sharing so much history, culture, and geography can have such different days and nights, divided merely by a line or the passport its people hold? This is the story of Jammu and Kashmir, with J&K and the other, PoJK. They share so much in common, yet their realities are so different.

Talking about PoJK, the region has been under Pakistan’s control since 1947 and will complete 79 years in a few days. Looking at its recent history, particularly the past four to five months and the period since June, the region has witnessed severe restrictions, curfews, and crackdowns imposed by Pakistan. The region has also witnessed a major uprising against Pakistan, with people demanding socio-political and economic reforms. However, their demands have remained unaddressed, while force has been used against protesters. As frustration grew, people came out onto the roads despite curfews, leading to killings, injuries, and grave human rights violations, including detentions and arrests. Communication blockades and the closure of businesses, schools, and transport services further disrupted daily life, dealing another blow to an already struggling economy.

What has been remarkable during these months of turmoil is the scale of the protests. Even the nights have not been spared. People have continued their demonstrations at night with the same intensity and determination. People from all walks of life have joined these nocturnal protests, and the visuals of such gatherings are truly striking. Nights that were meant for calm and rest have instead become a time for struggle, protests, and long marches, all because of Pakistan’s policies and its unwillingness to resolve the existing issues. This also highlights the magnitude of frustration and anger among the people of PoJK, whose determination to raise their voices for legitimate demands has not diminished even after sunset. What do nights in PoJK look like today? Streets filled with people raising slogans and protesting. Some go hungry, while others endure the cold, leaving the comfort of their homes and beds to stand in the darkness under torchlight. The fear of being abducted or killed grows with every passing hour, while the threat of encounters with wild animals’ looms over those protesting in the dark. Sleep deprivation takes a toll on their bodies and disrupts their biological clocks, yet nothing seems to have stopped them from continuing their struggle. People carry torches and mashaals in their hands, raise slogans, gather in large numbers, and march in protest against what they see as Pakistan’s oppressive policies and suppression of their voices. You will find more people on the roads of PoJK at night than in their beds. That is the reality of the situation. What began as an occasional occurrence has become a regular feature of the protests. Night protests have emerged as an important means for the people to make their voices heard and compel those in power to listen to the grievances of the oppressed. Yet, after more than 140 days of unrest, no resolution has been delivered to the people of PoJK by the Pakistani authorities. Instead, the continued failure to address their concerns and the harsh response to demonstrations have further deepened worsened the plight of ordinary people.

Now, Jammu and Kashmir, which Pakistan has always highlighted in a way that actually happens in PoJK under its oppression, presents a different picture. There was a time when even the days and nights in Kashmir were marked by terror and fear, as Pakistan backed terror groups wreaked havoc in our beautiful valley. However, over the past several years, Kashmir has become calmer and more peaceful. From the economy and tourism to education, everything is running smoothly. Here, nights present a different picture. They are meant for sleep, calmness, and peace after working throughout the day. Yes, roads and streets are filled with people, but not with protesters. Instead, they are filled with life, tourism, and transport. Whether you visit the Dal Lake, Lal Chowk, Pahalgam, or any other major business centre, you will find people conducting business, earning their livelihoods, and spending time with their loved ones without fear. Night time sporting activities, including cricket, football, and volleyball tournaments, have gained popularity across Kashmir. In my native village, a recently concluded volleyball tournament attracted large crowds. Some of my village’s locals even travelled to Pulwama, a 100 km destination to participate in a nocturnal final. This reflects the peace and normalcy that people are experiencing. This is the story of nights in Kashmir. Here, nights mean business, peace, sleep, tourism, and economic activity.

Well, it is not just the nights, but the days and overall daily life that reflect the administration and governance each region experiences. While PoJK remains under oppression and is cut off, its nights present a story and reflection of the oppression and suppression faced by its people. In contrast, Kashmir nights present a picture of calmness, business and peace.

Author can be reached at Email id : alizaroon@gmail.com