KASHMIR TODAY, PAKISTAN YESTERDAY: A NARRATIVE OUT OF TIME

Pakistan’s observance of so-called “Kashmir Solidarity Day” has increasingly lost its relevance in today’s geopolitical and humanitarian context. At a time when the global order is evolving rapidly and nations are being judged by their governance, stability and commitment to human development, symbolic rhetoric divorced from ground realities carries little meaning. India, as one of the world’s most stable democracies and one of the fastest-growing major economies, must engage its neighborhood with maturity and responsibility. However, before Pakistan claims solidarity with Jammu and Kashmir, it must first introspect and confront the grave political, economic and humanitarian crises unfolding within its own borders and in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir.

India’s position on Jammu and Kashmir is rooted in constitutional legitimacy, democratic governance and developmental inclusion. Over the past few years, Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed a transformation that cannot be dismissed through propaganda or selective narratives. Once plagued by prolonged unrest, shutdowns and cycles of violence, the region is now moving steadily from turmoil to peace, from radicalization to education and from bloodshed to normal civic life. Schools and colleges function without the shadow of hartals, tourism has revived, infrastructure projects are reshaping connectivity and economic engagement has increased significantly. The youth, once trapped between fear and misinformation are increasingly choosing education, entrepreneurship and mainstream participation over conflict.

Pakistan’s attempt to portray itself as a champion of Kashmiri aspirations rings hollow when contrasted with its internal deterioration. The country is facing one of the worst economic crises in its history, marked by inflation, unemployment, food insecurity, political instability and mass protests. Basic necessities such as electricity, healthcare and education remain inaccessible to large sections of its population. Daily demonstrations across Pakistani cities reflect public anger over governance failures, corruption and military overreach. In such circumstances, Pakistan’s moral standing to lecture others on human rights or solidarity is deeply compromised.

Rather than focusing on Jammu and Kashmir, the international community should be encouraged to examine the dire conditions prevailing in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir remains engulfed in political repression, military domination and systemic human rights violations. Despite the misleading label of “Azad” the region lacks genuine autonomy. Governance is tightly controlled from Islamabad through the so-called Azad Jammu and Kashmir Council, where real power rests with Pakistan’s military establishment. Local voices are marginalized, democratic institutions are weakened and dissent is met with intimidation or enforced silence.

In Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, people live under constant surveillance and fear. Those who dare to question the army or the Inter-Services Intelligence often disappear without a trace, becoming victims of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial actions. Civil liberties are routinely violated, freedom of expression is curtailed and political activism is criminalized. Ironically, Pakistan claims solidarity with Kashmiris while denying fundamental rights to the very people living under its control. Solidarity cannot exist where voices are suppressed and aspirations are crushed.

Economic exploitation further exposes Pakistan’s duplicity. Natural resources and minerals from Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir are systematically extracted without fair compensation or local consent. Despite the region’s rich hydropower potential and natural wealth, its people remain impoverished, unemployed and excluded from decision-making processes. Continuous protests by youth and civil society groups reflect widespread frustration over unemployment, lack of political participation and absence of development. This exploitation, coupled with political alienation, has fostered resentment and a growing demand for accountability and self-rule. In contrast, India’s approach to Jammu and Kashmir emphasizes integration, development and democratic participation. The dismantling of separatist structures, the decline of violent networks and the return of electoral politics signal a decisive shift toward stability.

Groups that once thrived on unrest have either dissolved, joined the democratic mainstream or lost relevance entirely. The participation of previously banned organizations in elections underscores the normalization of political processes. Tourism, trade, infrastructure development and investment have surged, generating employment and restoring confidence among the people.

India, as a responsible global actor and an upholder of human values, should continue urging the international community to focus on the humanitarian crisis in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. The people there suffer from food shortages, lack of quality education, poverty, enforced disappearances, unemployment and persistent terrorism. They demand civil rule, democratic accountability and freedom from perpetual military control. These are legitimate aspirations that deserve global attention, not suppression.

The reality Pakistan must confront is uncomfortable but unavoidable. Power cannot be sustained through violence, intimidation or proxy conflicts. A nation’s strength lies in its institutions, economic stability, social cohesion and respect for human dignity. Pakistan’s militarization of civilian life, unchecked influence of the army over political institutions and proliferation of unauthorized weaponry have weakened the state from within. The fact that much of Pakistan’s elite chooses to live abroad speaks volumes about the lack of faith in their own system.

For decades, Pakistan has attempted to internationalize the Kashmir issue while ignoring the suffering in Balochistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. This selective outrage has eroded its credibility. The world is no longer persuaded by narratives that ignore internal oppression while accusing others. Pakistan’s claims over Jammu and Kashmir have become increasingly irrelevant, not because the issue lacks history, but because Pakistan’s actions contradict its stated principles.

It is time for a shift in perspective. Instead of reacting to symbolic gestures like Kashmir Solidarity Day, the people of Jammu and Kashmir can extend genuine solidarity to those living under oppression in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. Their struggle for political rights, economic justice and human dignity deserves acknowledgment. A collective demand for reunification with the legally recognized Indian territory of Jammu and Kashmir reflects not expansionism, but a call for freedom, democracy and constitutional protection.

In conclusion, Pakistan’s Kashmir Solidarity Day stands disconnected from reality. Jammu and Kashmir is moving forward towards peace, development and democratic normalcy while Pakistan grapples with internal decay and human rights crises. The world is changing and so is Kashmir. The sooner Pakistan recognizes this shift and addresses its failures at home, the better it will be for its people and for regional stability. Empty slogans cannot mask suffering forever and solidarity without justice is merely hypocrisy.