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As ordinary Kashmiris, we unequivocally condemn the brutality being inflicted upon our brethren in PoJK through the hands of Islamabad and ISI. This article is not merely a compilation of public reactions; it is a document of solidarity with those whose voices continue to be silenced for demanding dignity, justice, and the basic necessities of life.
Israar Shahid
There is no ambiguity in accepting the unfortunate reality that, before 2019, Pakistan had managed to exert considerable influence in Kashmir through terrorism, separatist networks, extremist groups, and religious radicalisation. They had, to a significant extent, succeeded in creating an atmosphere where their narrative was flourishing. However, one thing remains inevitable: the truth cannot remain buried forever. Sooner or later, it comes to the fore for everyone to see. The post-2019 era in Kashmir not only brought lawlessness and violence under control but also unmasked the realities of Pakistan and those of its local handlers who, for years, exploited the conflict for their own vested interests. While they amassed wealth, built empires, secured comfortable lives for their own families, and safeguarded the future of their kith and kin, they continued to incite ordinary Kashmiri youth to sacrifice their lives for the so-called narrative of Azadi.
Today, as we stand in Kashmir, the change is not only palpable in terms of development but also in terms of the ideological shift that has taken place. The same Kashmir that I described above recently witnessed people taking to the streets with the Tricolour and raising slogans of “Pakistan Murdabad” in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack. The age of social media has brought countless realities before the common people. Through this unprecedented access to information, Kashmiris are now witnessing how their brethren across the border are being treated, how they are being killed, incarcerated, deprived of their fundamental rights, and how dissent is systematically suppressed. They are also seeing how the people of PoJK continue to bear the brunt of Islamabad’s political and administrative apathy. Against this backdrop, I spoke to a number of my fellow Kashmiris to understand their views on the evolving situation in PoJK. Here is what they had to say.
Ali Zaroon, a regular Columnist
For years, Pakistan-sponsored terrorism wreaked havoc in Kashmir. It sent our youth to graveyards, exploited innocent Kashmiris on religious lines, and sold them dreams that only resulted in bloodshed and destruction. Truth is inevitable and, sooner or later, it prevails (Satyameva Jayate). Today, as we look across the border, the mask has finally fallen. The Pakistani establishment is openly using force against the very people it once claimed to champion. During the recent protests in PoJK over inflation, electricity tariffs, and basic civic rights, Pakistani security forces resorted to firing on unarmed civilians, resulting in deaths and injuries. Their only “crime” was demanding affordable electricity, subsidised flour, and dignified living conditions. This exposes the hollowness of Pakistan’s so-called concern for Kashmiris. The life of an ordinary resident of PoJK holds little value before Pakistan and its deep state, which has repeatedly chosen repression over justice whenever its own people raise their voice. While we are witnessing development, progress, tourism, peace, and prosperity, our hearts go out to our brethren in PoJK who continue to live under Pakistani occupation, where even raising their voice for basic amenities is met with suppression. All said and done, one thing has now become abundantly clear: Pakistan and its handlers in Kashmir were never genuinely concerned about improving the lives of ordinary Kashmiris. Neither economic empowerment nor educational advancement nor social progress was ever their objective. Their only agenda was to keep the conflict alive while the common Kashmiri continued to bear its consequences.
Firdous Beigh, an Activist
As I scroll through social media every day, my feed is flooded with videos and posts exposing the brutality inflicted upon the common people of PoJK, and it wrenches my heart. I fail to understand why international human rights organisations and the United Nations continue to remain silent. Why is no meaningful action being taken against Pakistan? What is the world waiting for, another humanitarian tragedy? It is imperative to understand that Pakistan has never been, and will never be, a well-wisher of Kashmiris. We know how it manipulated and radicalised our youth, encouraging them to pick up guns in the name of a senseless conflict that ultimately sent an entire generation to the graveyards. Today, the same state that claimed to speak for Kashmiris is detaining and arresting activists and leaders in PoJK simply because they dared to demand affordable electricity, subsidised flour, and basic constitutional rights. Even peaceful dissent is being treated as a crime. I must thank social media and the internet because it is only through these platforms that we are able to witness these realities. They have given a voice to the hapless people of PoJK and carried their cries beyond the mountains, reaching the conscience of the world. I unequivocally condemn the brutality unleashed against our brethren through the coercive apparatus of Islamabad and the ISI.
Babar Magray, an AI and SEO Expert
For decades, Pakistan invested enormous resources in manufacturing a narrative on Kashmir for the global audience. Today, ironically, it is technology itself that is exposing the truth. In the age of artificial intelligence, satellite imagery, independent journalism, and social media, it has become increasingly difficult for any state to suppress facts indefinitely. Every crackdown, every arbitrary arrest, every act of brutality in PoJK finds its way onto digital platforms for the world to witness. What shocks me the most is the blatant hypocrisy of Pakistan. A country that claims to be the torchbearer of Kashmiri rights does not hesitate to lathi-charge, detain, or even open fire on the very Kashmiris living under its control whenever they demand electricity, employment, affordable food, or constitutional rights. The recent protests in PoJK have once again exposed the hollowness of Pakistan’s rhetoric. Instead of addressing the genuine grievances of its own people, Islamabad has repeatedly responded with intimidation and force. The digital age has fundamentally changed the information landscape. Pakistan can no longer rely on propaganda because facts now travel faster than fabricated narratives. The world is watching, and more importantly, Kashmiris are watching. The contrast between peace and development on one side and repression and denial of basic rights on the other has become too evident to ignore.
Faizan Ahmad, Student Activist and a Writer
As a student activist, I often reflect on what my generation lost because of a conflict that was prolonged and fuelled by Pakistan and its handlers in Kashmir. Frequent hartal calls, violence, and an atmosphere of fear deprived thousands of students of uninterrupted education. Schools and colleges remained shut for days and sometimes months, leaving an entire generation educationally disadvantaged. While those who orchestrated this turmoil ensured bright futures for their own children, it was ordinary Kashmiri students who paid the price. Today, thankfully, our educational institutions function without such prolonged disruptions, and students can pursue their aspirations in a more peaceful environment. Yet, our hearts continue to go out to our brothers and sisters in PoJK, who remain victims of repression for demanding nothing more than their basic rights and dignified living conditions. Their struggle reminds us that no society can progress when its youth are silenced instead of empowered. Pakistan repeatedly claims to champion the cause of Kashmiris, but its actions tell a different story. A state that responds to peaceful demands with intimidation and force cannot claim to be the guardian of Kashmiri interests. The people of PoJK deserve classrooms instead of crackdowns, opportunities instead of oppression, and hope instead of fear.
Bottom Line
The mask that Pakistan wore for decades to portray itself as the well-wisher of Kashmiris has finally fallen, particularly in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, which prompted many Kashmiris to reassess long-held narratives. Today, the realities unfolding in PoJK stand in sharp contrast to the rhetoric that Pakistan has propagated for years. A state that claims to champion the cause of Kashmiris cannot simultaneously suppress, detain, and use force against the very people it professes to represent. As ordinary Kashmiris, we unequivocally condemn the brutality being inflicted upon our brethren in PoJK. This article is not merely a compilation of public reactions; it is a document of solidarity with those whose voices continue to be silenced for demanding dignity, justice, and the basic necessities of life. Our message is simple: the people of PoJK are not alone, and their suffering cannot be ignored. It is now incumbent upon international human rights organisations, global democratic institutions, and the United Nations to wake from their prolonged silence and take cognisance of the genuine grievances of the people of PoJK. Selective concern for human rights only weakens the credibility of the international system. The world must listen before the situation deteriorates further and irreversible human suffering follows. Silence in the face of oppression has never served the cause of justice.
Email: soulofkashmir1@gmail.com
