Political crisis in PoK reflects 'profound disconnect' between people and administration: Report
Islamabad, June 27
The current political crisis in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir underscores the deep disconnect between the local population and a "toothless" regional administration that remains entirely subservient to Islamabad.
The authorities' decision to ban the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) and deploy lethal force in the occupied territory reflects a broader military-driven strategy to suppress genuine local resistance and demands for political reform, according to a latest report.
The unrest in PoK, which has left dozens dead, intensified after Pakistani authorities outlawed the JAAC on June 5, branding the grassroots group a "terrorist" organisation. Islamabad has long exercised political control over the region through Pakistan's mainstream parties, which have dominated power for decades, while steadily shrinking the space for local political groups, a report in the 'International Centre for Peace Studies' highlighted.
According to the report, the party in power in Islamabad has consistently emerged victorious in elections in PoK and Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan (PoGB), a pattern that, it argued, can hardly be dismissed as mere coincidence.
It highlighted that the "so-called democratic exercise of holding elections is merely a facade, as the conditions created by Islamabad compel locals to align with the party in power in Islamabad".
Also, if the analysis that having the same party in power at both the federal and regional levels ensures better governance is true, then PoK should have emerged as one of the most developed regions. Instead, the region remains the "least developed and exploited," much like PoGB, the report noted.
It further stressed that "interference and control of Islamabad on the local politics make it unlikely that it would be willing to make any change in the existing political structure" in PoK.
With the elections scheduled to be held in the region on July 27, the report said, it was becoming clear that the existing political structure would continue and the local government would remain under the control of Islamabad.
Highlighting that Pakistan's military establishment is willing to go to any extent to preserve the existing order, even by resorting to a "killing spree", the report said it was no surprise that the first instance of such large-scale violence by the Pakistani authorities in PoK was aimed at crushing local resistance against Islamabad.
Recently, the leader of JAAC, Shaukat Nawaz Mir, wrote on X that the "State has begun a massacre of our people in Rawalakot".
The report concluded that the upcoming General Elections in PoK are highly likely to perpetuate the cycle of violence, "cementing a puppet regime aligned with the military establishment's centralising agenda while completely ignoring the real grievances of the Kashmiri people."
— IANS
Reader Comments
Interesting analysis, but from an international perspective, while the report offers valuable insight into the political dynamics, it's worth noting that these kind of tensions exist in many post-colonial regions. The real tragedy is that Kashmiris on both sides of the border suffer while political elites in Islamabad or Delhi play their games.
This is a classic Pakistani tactic - brand anyone who opposes their illegal occupation as 'terrorist'. So predictable! The whole world knows PoK is not a legitimate part of Pakistan. Those 70+ innocent people killed in Rawalakot - where is the international outcry? This is why Pakistan can't be trusted with any dispute resolution!
While I condemn the violence against JAAC, we can't ignore that India also has issues in its part of Kashmir. More dialogue, less chest-thumping on both sides would help the common Kashmiri. But yes, banning a political group and shooting its members is absolutely wrong. Pak should release those arrested leaders and allow free elections immediately.
Does anyone seriously believe PoK elections will be free and fair? The same Pakistan that imposes Article 370-style laws there while crying about Article 370 in India! Their 'Azad Kashmir' is the biggest misnomer in the world - there is nothing 'azad' about it. The people there are seeing through this charade now, finally.
Excellent report by International Centre for Peace Studies. The data clearly shows how the same party keeps winning in both Islamabad and PoK - it's a rigged system. But I worry this will be used by hawks in India to justify
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