IS “ AZAD KASHMIR” TRULY FREE? UNMASKING PAKISTAN’S OCCUPATION

The term “Azad Jammu and Kashmir”, as Pakistan calls the territory it occupies, is a masterpiece of propaganda, a name that promises freedom while delivering subjugation. Far from being an independent entity, as the word “Azad” suggests, Azad Kashmir is a colony under Pakistan’s illegal and aggressive occupation and a stolen fragment of the erstwhile princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. Since 1947, Pakistan has maintained a facade of autonomy in this region, with puppet leaders and a hollow governance structure, all while denying its people genuine freedom. The question demands an answer: Is “Azad Kashmir” truly Azad, or is it a land shackled by Pakistan’s colonial grip?

The roots of this deception trace back to 1947, when Pakistan, driven by territorial ambition, invaded Jammu and Kashmir. After Maharaja Hari Singh legally acceded to India through the Instrument of Accession, Pakistan launched a tribal invasion, backed by its military, to forcibly seize parts of the state. This was not an act of liberation but a blatant land grab, executed with deceit and violence. The United Nations, through Resolution 47, called upon Pakistan to withdraw its forces, including the non-resident tribesmen and Pakistani nationals who had entered Jammu and Kashmir for fighting, but Pakistan’s refusal to withdraw its forces rendered the resolution ineffective. Had Pakistan’s intentions been honest, it could have declared the occupied territory an independent state and sought recognition from its allies. Instead, it chose to occupy and control, revealing its true aim: not freedom for the people, but strategic domination. The label “Azad Kashmir” is nothing but a cynical ploy to mask this reality.

Pakistan’s claim of granting autonomy to AJK is a farce. The region operates under the so-called “AJK Interim Constitution Act of 1974”, which, despite its veneer of self-governance, places the occupied Kashmir firmly under Islamabad’s thumb. The Kashmir Council, chaired by Pakistan’s Prime Minister and packed with Pakistani appointees, wields supreme authority over legislation, taxation and judicial matters. The so called “Prime Minister” and “President” are mere figureheads, stripped of real power, serving as puppets who parrot Pakistan’s narrative. This is not autonomy, but subjugation dressed up in democratic clothing. How can a region be called “Azad” when its every decision is dictated by Islamabad?

The people of Occupied Kashmir, many of whom share cultural and ethnic ties with the broader Kashmiri population, are denied the basic rights that true freedom entails. Freedom of expression is a myth there. Political dissent is crushed and those who question Pakistan’s control are labelled traitors or silenced through intimidation. Reports from organizations like Human Rights Watch highlight a grim reality: arbitrary arrests, torture and enforced disappearances are common tools used to suppress voices advocating for genuine independence or reunification with Jammu and Kashmir. Political parties that dare to challenge Pakistan’s narrative are banned or marginalized. The media operates under strict censorship, with journalists facing constant threats. If this is azadi, it is the azadi of fear, not freedom.

Economically, Occupied Kashmir is a textbook case of colonial exploitation. Despite its rich natural resources, rivers with immense hydropower potential and fertile lands, the region remains underdeveloped. Projects like the Mangla Dam generate significant electricity for Pakistan, yet the people of Occupied Kashmir see little benefit. Unemployment is rampant, infrastructure is crumbling and access to basic services like healthcare and education is abysmal. Pakistan extracts resources from the Occupied Kashmir while investing minimally in its development, therefore treating the region as a colonial outpost rather than a partner. The local economy is tethered to Islamabad’s whims, with budgets controlled and development projects dictated by Pakistani interests. This is not the economic independence of a free region but the plunder of an occupied one.

Pakistan’s cultural policies in Occupied Kashmir further expose its colonial mindset. The region’s unique Kashmiri identity, rooted in its languages, traditions and history, is systematically eroded. Urdu is imposed as the dominant language, sidelining local dialects like Pahari, Gojri and Kashmiri. Educational curricula are controlled by Islamabad, ensuring that the narrative of Azad Kashmir as an integral part of Pakistan is indoctrinated into young minds. In Gilgit-Baltistan, another occupied part of Jammu and Kashmir, demographic changes through settlements have further diluted the region’s cultural fabric. This is not freedom; it is a deliberate attempt to erase the identity of a people and replace it with Pakistan’s own.

The legal status of Occupied Kashmir’s residents is another glaring contradiction. Unlike Pakistani citizens, the people of Occupied Kashmir are issued special “Azad Kashmir passports”, which limit their rights and mobility compared to those in mainland Pakistan. They are neither full citizens of Pakistan nor citizens of an independent state, trapped in a limbo that denies them the benefits of either. This is a cruel irony for a region branded as “Azad”, where the people are neither free to govern themselves nor treated as equals by the state that claims them.

Pakistan’s military presence in the Occupied Kashmir further shatters the myth of azadi. The region is heavily militarized, with Pakistani forces and intelligence agencies, particularly the Inter-Services Intelligence, maintaining tight control. The Occupied Kashmir has been used as a staging ground for cross border militancy, a tool in Pakistan’s proxy war against India, with the local population bearing the consequences of this geopolitical game. The heavy-handed presence of the military and the use of the region for strategic purposes underscore its status as an occupied territory, not a free one.

The international community must see through Pakistan’s propaganda. The term “Azad Kashmir” is a carefully crafted lie, designed to legitimise an illegal occupation. If Pakistan truly believed in the principle of self-determination, it would have allowed the people of Occupied Kashmir to chart their own course, free from coercion. Instead, it has imposed a system where dissent is crushed, resources are exploited and identity is suppressed; all while cloaking its actions in the rhetoric of liberation. The contrast with Jammu and Kashmir, where people have the right to vote, protest and participate in democratic processes, is stark. Jammu and Kashmir has a solid framework of rights and representation that Occupied Kashmir can only dream of.

The question of whether “Azad Kashmir” is truly Azad has a clear answer: it is not. It is a land under Pakistan’s colonial control and its people are denied the freedoms promised by its name. The so-called autonomy is a facade, the leaders are puppets and the aspirations of the people are stifled. Pakistan’s occupation of “Azad Kashmir” is a betrayal of the very principles it claims to uphold. The world must recognize this truth and call out Pakistan’s deception. Until the people of “Azad Kashmir” are granted genuine self-determination, free from Islamabad’s grip, the term “Azad Kashmir” will remain a hollow slogan and a cruel reminder of a freedom that exists only in name