Opinion | Independence Day in PoJK and in Kashmir

There is a narrative that is built using media, politics, diplomatic missions or any assets at disposal, but when reality hits the ground, the fragile narrative crumbles within no time. Pakistan has spent billions of dollars and years peddling fake and ill-founded narratives on Kashmir and PoJK, yet these efforts by Pakistan are refuted by those whom Pakistan targets with misinformation. The recently concluded Independence Days of India and Pakistan have once again proven the reality of Kashmir and PoJK. On the 14th and 15th of August, Pakistan and India celebrated their respective Independence Days. What remained a defining aspect of these celebrations was the contrasting reality of Kashmir and PoJK.

For decades, Pakistan has painted PoJK as “Azad” or “Free Kashmir”, but what is painted as “Azad” is the most occupied land. As Pakistan was celebrating its 80th birthday and Independence Day, PoJK remained shut. When the whole of Pakistan was celebrating under the national flag, PoJK citizens remained under lockdown. When the whole of Pakistan was coloured with the white and green of the Pakistani national flag, PoJK was painted with blood red. When the Pakistani crescent hovered over them, clouds of pain and fear hovered over PoJK. On the Independence Day of Pakistan, PoJK remained locked down, with no internet connectivity and a sea of Pakistani security forces on PoJK roads. Those who were supposed to protect the people were the ones PoJK felt most intimidated by. Pakistan has not worn off its birthday celebrations yet, but painfully, PoJK citizens continue to protest for their basic rights. Over the past few months, PoJK has undergone brutal and inhumane treatment by Pakistan. Several deaths, injuries and reports of mass detentions have been regular, and this is the “Azadi” Pakistan claims to give to PoJK. When the whole of Pakistan was singing patriotic songs, PoJK people were reciting elegies for their deceased ones. When Pakistanis were bursting crackers to enjoy Azadi, its forces were opening gunfire and firing tear gas shells to deliver so called Azadi at the doorsteps of PoJK houses. On Pakistan’s Independence Day, shops in PoJK remained closed, businesses remained shut, and there were no rallies or celebrations of Pakistan’s Independence Day. I could not see even a single flag raised or unfurled in PoJK streets by commoners, and this tells a truth about the importance of Pakistan’s Independence Day for PoJK citizens. Roads were deserted, streets were empty, with no rush or gush for the day, and the revealing reality is, how can a woman celebrate a so-called Independence Day when she lost her son to firing by the forces of that country, or when a sister lost her brother? How can she even consider herself free? How can PoJK be free when it is politically and administratively severely controlled by Pakistan? How can it celebrate freedom when Pakistan does not listen to their demands and grievances but, in return, gives them bullets and misery?

Now, if we see the actual Azad Kashmir (KASHMIR), the story is entirely different and contrasting to PoJK. Kashmir celebrated Independence Day with absolute passion and patriotism. From Kupwara to Qazigund, every Kashmiri stood united under the blessed saffron, white and green. The celebrations were massive. Commoners, Schools, colleges, universities and local organisations made the most out of this. My social media was flooded with patriotic posts and greetings. Our network connectivity was functional, roads were filled with commoners celebrating the day and holding the Tricolour, and decorations had their fair share too. Business was smooth, life was normal, no fear, no turmoil, all lively celebrations and passion. What stole my heart was a tailor stitching a Tricolour ahead of 15th August, as I went there to devour barbecue (tujj) from a famous spot there. Another one that I loved was a bookseller selling Tricolour caps and two cab drivers fighting for a single Tricolour as they wanted to hoist it on their cars. Such scenes are so soothing, and I guess no one had witnessed them before. I saw a Kashmiri who had posted on X about how his son, in Tiranga themed attire, asked him to wake him early as they had Independence Day celebrations in school. One was from Bandipora, where students of a madrassa, an Islamic seminary, were seen reciting the national anthem and holding the Tricolour in their hands. Seeing my faith and my country so perfectly blended melted my heart. Kashmir had bike rallies and Har Ghar Tiranga campaigns, making the day more memorable. Shops, cars, homes, streets and roads all exhibited vibrant scenes to mark Independence Day. Simply, Independence Day in Kashmir was marked with massive passion and participation, unlike PoJK, which gave a deserted look.

The deserted scenes in PoJK act as an unofficial referendum, reflecting the rejection of Pakistan by the people of the occupied land. The region remains under lockdown and continues to suffer, exposing Pakistan’s baseless claims of a “free Azad Kashmir.” Meanwhile, the Kashmir that Pakistan claims undergo what it actually carries out in PoJK, witnessed lively and passionate celebrations of Independence Day, in complete opposite to Pakistan’s propaganda, seen by the world and beyond. Thus, these two days acted as a double-edged sword for Pakistan, exposing the reality behind its claims over both PoJK and Kashmir.

Zeeshanshaguftabhat@gmail.com