New wave of unrest engulfs PoJK as thousands protest over rising cost of living

A new wave of unrest engulfed Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) on August 3 as large crowds gathered in various cities including Muzafarabad, Kotli, Mirpur, Dadyal, Tatapani, Chaksawari, Khuirata, and Nakyal. The people were protesting against added taxes on their electricity bills, shortages of wheat, cuts in subsidies, frequent power outages, load shedding and the ever-rising cost of living.

Meanwhile, people took to the streets in all three divisions of Mirpur, Poonch and Muzafarabad. The PoJK government has been given an ultimatum to withdraw additional taxes within two weeks, or if they fail to comply, a state-wide strike will take place, and the legislative assembly building in Muzafarabad, the capital city of PoJK, will be besieged.

People from all walks of life joined the protest. Students, lawyers, transporters, pensioners, traders and different sections of civil society blocked roads, observed sit-ins and held rallies at each and every road crossing and town/city square in the above-mentioned urban and semi-rural centres.

PoJK has experienced state-wide protests before, but this time, the anger of the masses appears more organized with cross-state networking and clear demands. Despite the ongoing protests, there is currently no clear political plan to bring about a change in the legal status of PoJK. As a result, past movements have ultimately fizzled out and left participants feeling drained and frustrated.

75 years of Islamic/two-nation brainwashing theory

The Pakistan military establishment has been conducting Islamic/two-nation theory-based brainwashing for 75 years, replacing factual information with false narratives about the political crisis in Jammu and Kashmir. This has proven to be a significant obstacle in achieving a consensus among the population of PoJK regarding the true nature of the so-called Kashmir issue. To overcome this obstacle, it is important to consistently, persistently, and patiently explain the true nature of the situation. On October 22, 1947, Pakistan attacked and forcefully annexed western parts of Jammu province and Gilgit-Baltistan, creating a hostile regional environment.

The purpose of the annexation was two-fold. Firstly, it was to prevent India's land access to central Asia. Secondly, it was primarily to exploit the region's natural resources. Based on geological surveys, it has been discovered that PoJK has a wealth of valuable gemstones, as well as abundant natural resources such as metals, non-metals, forest wood and river water. It is estimated that PoJK has roughly Rs 78 trillion worth of minerals and precious stone deposits. These include Ruby, granite, limestone, coal, marble and others. The total value of Granite deposits alone is estimated at Rs 40 billion.

PoJK has a total population of approximately 4.5 million, with 700,000 unemployed young people and two million working abroad. Many of our youth are leaving PoJK in search of better opportunities, and unfortunately, some are resorting to dodgy human traffickers who promise to take them to Europe in exchange for large sums of money. 

Given the dire situation, it is imperative that the Indian government steps up to address the crisis in PoJK, as the residents are Indian citizens. Their citizenship was established through the instrument of accession signed by King Maharaja Hari Singh and the last governor-general of India, Lord Mountbatten.

Hence, the citizenship status of 4.5 million PoJK and 2 million Gilgit-Baltistan residents is Indian by default. The current humanitarian crisis faced by the people of PoJK is a result of 75 years of exploitation of their natural and human resources. Unless a well-organized policy of mass education is implemented in PoJK and Gilgit-Baltistan, any attempt to reclaim PoJK could lead to unforeseen consequences.

In order to connect the current struggles of the people in PoJK with the goal of reunification with India, it is necessary to counter the false narrative that has been perpetuated for 75 years.