IPF Roundtable Discussion on the Situation in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir

 

The India Policy Foundation (IPF) convened a roundtable discussion in New Delhi on July 4, 2026 to critically analyse the situation in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. The discussion involved Shri Ashutosh Bhatnagar, Senior Journalist and Director of the Jammu Kashmir Study Centre (JKSC), and Shri Ranjan Chauhan, Secretary of the Jammu Kashmir Study Centre (JKSC), as the speakers. The session was moderated by Dr Kuldeep Ratnoo, Director of the India Policy Foundation (IPF).

  

Dr Kuldeep Ratnoo initiated the discussion by stating that the focus of the session was the ongoing situation due to rising public unrest in the Pakistan-occupied region of Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). He highlighted that the Jammu Kashmir Study Centre (JKSC) has been doing in-depth research on a number of issues concerning the region, and therefore its senior officials are well placed to provide informed perspectives on the subject.

 

 

Referring to the prevailing situation in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, Dr Ratnoo observed that the people of the region had remained angry due to misgovernance of the region and ill-treatment of locals for a very long time. He mentioned that the exploitation of natural resources of the region by the Pakistani government, without making any investment to improve living conditions of the people, has resulted in extreme difficulties faced by locals even in arranging basic needs like food at affordable price.

 

Dr Kuldeep Ratnoo stated that this discontent among local people had now taken the shape of a mass uprising against Pakistan’s government and armed forces. He observed that seeing the massive public mobilisation, the Pakistani armed forces have been brutally suppressing the locals, even firing on the agitating civilians to terrorise them. He also pointed out that a large number of women were actively participating in protests and that people were raising their voices against exploitation by the Pakistani army as well as various government agencies.

 

Shri Ashutosh Bhatnagar began his address by recalling that erstwhile princely state of Jammu and Kashmir in its entirety acceded to India on 26 October 1947. However, Muslim League leaders wanted the region to become part of newly created Pakistan, so as early as in June 1947, when partition of India was decided, they had started mobilising Jihadi mercenaries and arms for an attack on Jammu and Kashmir. When Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir signed the instrument of accession to India, these armed infiltrators unleashed a reign of terror in the region and killed thousands of local Hindus and Sikhs, forcing the survivors to run towards safer areas.

 

 

As a result, some parts of Jammu and Kashmir were illegally occupied by Pakistani infiltrators. Showing a map, he explained that the area presently referred to as Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) constitutes a part of this occupied territory. He further noted that Pakistan occupied territory of Ladakh (PoTL) is Gilgit-Baltistan region, which it officially terms as a separate administrative unit, although it remains like “Pakistan's colony”, where citizens do not have their basic rights. He pointed out that during the 1962 war, China captured some territory of Ladakh region and in 1963, Pakistan ceded a portion of Gilgit-Baltistan to China. He stated that, as a result, Chinese-occupied territory of Ladakh (CoTL) lies to the north and east of the Siachen Glacier.

 

Discussing the historical significance of the region, Shri Bhatnagar said that Mirpur, a city in PoJK, has historical connection with King Porus and his war against invading army of Alexander. He also noted that places from this region find mention in both the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. He stated that Rawalakot, the capital of Poonch District in PoJK, was the place where the Pakistani leaders made the decision to infiltrate into India and take over the border areas through brutal violence against locals. He observed that, nearly eighty years later, the same Rawalakot is witnessing another movement aimed at securing independence from Pakistan. Muzaffarabad is another city where unrest is on the rise.

 

Shri Bhatnagar further stated that Pakistan never regarded the people of the Poonch district as its own because they spoke a different language and possessed a distinct culture. According to him, Pakistan was interested in controlling the territory rather than integrating its people. He referred to the construction of the Mangla Dam on the Jhelum River, stating that it resulted in the submergence of the towns of Mirpur and caused the deaths of many people, including members of the Muslim community. He alleged that Pakistan did not provide assistance to those affected. He mentioned that the people of the region were hardworking and had significant exposure to the outside world because they had earlier been employed and exploited by the British as labourers. Consequently, many chose to migrate to the United States and Europe rather than relocate within Pakistan. He noted that, as of 2026, nine of the twelve Muslim Members of Parliament in the United Kingdom trace their origins to Mirpur.

 

Speaking about developments after the accession of Jammu and Kashmir to India, Shri Bhatnagar stated that Pakistan has consistently attempted to integrate the occupied Gilgit Baltistan region as one of its provinces because of the strategic significance of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which passes through the area. He argued that by allowing China access to Indian territory, Pakistan had secured its own strategic interests.

 

Shri Bhatnagar observed that opposition to Pakistan among residents of PoJK has extended to opposition against China as well. He stated that the people of the region have become convinced that the Pakistani government does not care about their welfare and that they oppose the Chinese military presence in the area. According to him, the people of PoJK have been facing severe economic hardship, which has emerged as one of the principal causes of unrest in recent years. He asserted that the Pakistani government has failed to provide even basic public facilities. Although the Line of Control (LoC) separates PoJK with Indian side, he remarked that there is a stark contrast in the quality of life on either side. He stated that the areas under Indian administration have witnessed development in infrastructure, education and employment, whereas the areas under Pakistan's occupation continue to face poverty, hunger, disease and inflation.

Illustrating the prevailing conditions, Shri Bhatnagar referred to an incident from the previous year in which Pakistani security forces allegedly opened fire on civilians after a dispute broke out on the day of Id, when people had gathered to receive Sewaiyan because they lacked access to even basic provisions. According to him, the firing resulted in several deaths. He further stated that even ‘atta’ (wheat flour) is smuggled into the PoJK from India and sold at exorbitant prices, which reflects the prevailing conditions under Pakistan's administration.

 

Shri Bhatnagar stressed that greater efforts are required to make the wider Indian public aware of the situation prevailing in PoJK. He recounted a conversation with a family living approximately one kilometre from the Line of Control. According to him, the family had met relatives from the other side while performing the pilgrimage to Mecca. When they described the availability of electricity, schools and hospitals in their village, those from PoJK reportedly refused to believe them, saying that such facilities could not exist because they had been taught that India was an enemy state. Shri Bhatnagar stated that once they realised the information was true, they too expressed a desire to move to the Indian side. According to him, this reflected the growing realisation among the people that India treats its citizens with dignity. He said that the people of PoJK are now getting aware of the living conditions on the Indian side of the Line of Control. They see the development, respect for human rights and other facilities available under Indian administration and, according to him, most locals aspire to immigrate to India.

 

 

Concluding his address, Shri Bhatnagar observed that Pakistan imposes long prison terms of thirty to forty years even for minor offences, which has prompted many people to flee to other countries. He noted that some of these individuals have now initiated movements from abroad to draw international attention to the deteriorating situation in PoJK.

 

Referring to the unanimous resolution passed by the Indian parliament in February 1994, he noted that it declared entire Jammu and Kashmir to be an integral part of India and called upon Pakistan to vacate occupied areas. Shri Bhatnagar concluded by asserting that India now possesses both the capability and the resolve to recover the territory under Pakistan's occupation. He expressed confidence that those in authority would take the appropriate decision at the appropriate time. Until then, he emphasised the need to closely monitor developments in PoJK, since both the land and its people belong to India.

 

Shri Ranjan Chauhan began his address by referring to the major centres of the ongoing protests in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), namely Rawalakot, Mirpur and Muzaffarabad, noting that Rawalakot has emerged as the principal centre of the agitation. He observed that the erstwhile princely state of Jammu and Kashmir encompasses a total area of 222,236 square kilometres. According to him, Kashmir constitutes the smallest geographical region within the erstwhile state encompassing Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, of which India presently administers only about 15,000 square kilometres, while the remaining territory is under Pakistan's occupation or China's control. He further stated that the region is home to several communities, including Kashmiris, Dogras, Pahadis, Gujjars and many others. He emphasised that an understanding of the geographical distribution of these communities is essential for comprehending the larger question of Jammu and Kashmir.

 

  

Turning to the contemporary situation, Shri Chauhan stated that the focus of the discussion was on those parts of Jammu and Kashmir that are under the illegal occupation of Pakistan. He explained that the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee had recently been formed in response to what he described as more than seventy years of exploitation by the Pakistani government and its different authorities. According to him, the roots of the present discontent can be traced back to 1947 and cannot be viewed as a recent phenomenon.

 

He identified three principal causes behind the present unrest. The first, according to him, concerns electricity generated through the Mangla Dam and the Kishanganga Dam, which, he said, is diverted to major cities in Pakistan while the local population is deprived of electricity. The second issue, he noted, is high inflation affecting the region. The third relates to constitutional representation. Shri Chauhan stated that twelve seats associated with PoJK are represented by individuals nominated by Pakistan government. Referring to the composition of the so-called Azad Kashmir Assembly, he explained that it consists of fifty-three seats, of which eight are nominated. Of the remaining forty-five seats, he stated that twelve are nominated by Pakistan and sent to the region. According to him, Pakistan has, over the years, nominated individuals loyal to Pakistani establishment who have exercised control over the Assembly. He observed that the locals have long been protesting against this arrangement. He further remarked that even in India, insufficient attention has been paid to the hardships and atrocities allegedly faced by the people living in PoJK.

 

Shri Chauhan then referred to the military developments surrounding the accession of Jammu and Kashmir in 1947. He stated that in the attacks launched by the Pakistani Army before and after the accession, areas such as Mirpur, Muzaffarabad and Kotli came under Pakistan's control. Referring to recent violence in PoJK, he observed that casualty figures vary significantly. While some reports mention around fifteen deaths, others estimate fifty to sixty, and still others claim that nearly three hundred people have been killed. He remarked that the higher estimate may be consistent with the visual evidence available.

He stressed that the present attacks on civilians should not be viewed as unprecedented. According to him, following June 1947, Pakistani military operations resulted in the capture of Mirpur, Muzaffarabad, Kotli, Bhimber and other areas, during which more than 50,000 people, predominantly Hindus and Sikhs who then constituted the majority population, were killed. He stated that in Mirpur alone, approximately 10,000 people were killed within two days, when it was still a small village that later became part of the city. According to Shri Chauhan, a similar pattern was repeated in other towns. He further stated that the Pakistani Army arrested civilians and confined them in Alibegh Gurudwara, originally known as Kishangarh, where, according to him, thousands of people may have been killed. He remarked that the region witnessed a series of atrocities between 1947 and 1950 and noted that the term "Pakistani Kabaili" (tribal mercenaries) was used to refer to those who carried out attacks during that period.

 

Shri Chauhan further stated that when India first sought an explanation regarding these violent attacks in 1947, Pakistan responded by claiming that the attacks had not been carried out by the state but by local tribal groups. Referring to the first United Nations delegation visit in July 1948, he stated that the visiting team acknowledged the presence of three brigades of the Pakistani Army in the occupied territory. According to him, the team recommended that Pakistan vacate the occupied areas, and this recommendation formed part of the official record. He observed that, despite this, Pakistan continues to exercise control over the region.

 

Discussing the humanitarian impact of the conflict, Shri Chauhan stated that nearly fifteen lakh people from the region were displaced in 1947 and subsequently settled across sixty different cities in India. He described these displaced persons as the real and first stakeholders of Jammu and Kashmir. According to him, the developments unfolding in 2026 must therefore be viewed within the historical continuity of events that began with the formation of Pakistan.

 

Referring to political developments in 1950, Shri Chauhan stated that Pakistan established the so-called Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government. He noted that after some time, Sardar Ibrahim Khan began raising his voice against what he described as Pakistan's atrocities, thereby gaining the support of the Sudhan community which he belonged to. He observed that while the Sudhans are often accused of attacking Jammu and Kashmir, the community shifted its base to Rawalakot after its leader came under attack and established a separate government that remained in power from 1951 to 1955-56. According to him, the region was then administered by two parallel governments—one being the AJK government and the other headed by Sardar Ibrahim Khan. Shri Chauhan alleged that the Pakistani government repeatedly targeted Ibrahim Khan's administration, including through the deployment of the Punjab Constabulary to suppress civilian protests. He further stated that the Pakistani Army completely burned down Sudhanoti village in 1955.

 

Drawing a connection between historical and contemporary developments, Shri Chauhan observed that people participating in the present protests frequently invoke the memory of the Poonch uprising. He alleged that in 1955, Pakistani authorities tied local men and women to jeeps and dragged them until severe injuries were inflicted. According to him, these incidents demonstrate the continuity of atrocities committed by the Pakistani Army and explain the deep resentment among the local population towards the Pakistani government. He added that the violence continued for five to six years before subsiding because people became exhausted. During the 1960s and 1970s, he stated, those who criticised the Pakistani government were either killed or have disappeared. Referring to United Nations reports, he observed that approximately 6,500 people remain missing from the region and that their whereabouts are still unknown.

 

Based on his personal experience of spending six to seven years in Kashmir, Shri Chauhan remarked that he had witnessed instances where the global media concocted imaginary events and that such fake reports were subsequently used in presentations before the United Nations alleging atrocities in India. At the same time, he pointed out that there has been very little reporting on the Poonch uprising. He referred to an Urdu book published in 1977 documenting the uprising and stated that the Pakistani platform tribune.pk is among the few sources carrying reports on these atrocities.

 

 

Shri Chauhan stated that while democratic institutions in India may at times have been misused, Pakistan has been committing atrocities continuously since 1947. He observed that between 1990 and 2025, hundreds of cases involving killings have taken place in PoJK, including the killing of a journalist that went unreported. Referring to the so-called Azad Jammu and Kashmir, he argued that it is "Azad" only in name. According to him, candidates contesting elections are required to sign a declaration stating that AJK is an integral part of Pakistan. He contrasted this with the legal status of Jammu and Kashmir, stating that it is an integral part of India and recognised internationally, making repeated assertions of this position unnecessary. He further observed that the so-called Prime Minister of AJK exercises no real authority because Pakistan effectively controls the fifty-three-member Assembly, a situation that has generated considerable public resentment.

 

Shri Chauhan stated that media reports often describe the protests as those of Kashmiris against Pakistan. However, according to him, there are relatively few Kashmiris remaining in Mirpur and Poonch, while only about ten to fifteen per cent of Muzaffarabad's population comprises Kashmiris. He explained that after the construction of the Mangla Dam, many residents of Mirpur migrated to other countries. According to him, it is this diaspora that has been organising protests outside the Pakistan High Commission in 2026.

 

Shri Chauhan stated that the present phase of protests began around 2023. He reiterated that the principal issues were electricity, inflation and constitutional representation. According to him, these grievances eventually led to the formation of the Jammu and Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee, an umbrella organisation comprising professionals such as doctors, lawyers and students. He stated that the organisation regularly places its demands before the Pakistani government. While the government verbally accepts these demands, he alleged that they are not implemented in practice. He further noted that large-scale protests took place during 2024 and 2025, during which several people were killed and protesters also attacked Pakistani Army settlements.

 

Discussing the developments of June 2026, Shri Chauhan stated that one of the principal demands of the people was the abolition of the twelve-seat representation linked to Pakistan. According to him, although the Pakistani government had verbally accepted this demand, a judicial decision delivered on 7 June 2026 held that these twelve seats could not be abolished because they enjoyed constitutional validity. He stated that the judgement triggered widespread protests.

 

According to Shri Chauhan, the first person killed during these protests was a shopkeeper near the Maang Bridge in Rawalakot. He further alleged that when the body was taken to a hospital, the Pakistani Army and the PoJK Police again attacked the protesters. Referring to an officer identified as Inspector Sardar Innayat Khan of the AJK Police, Shri Chauhan stated that the officer refused to obey orders from the Pakistani Army to open fire on protesters and was subsequently killed. He acknowledged that Pakistan has denied this allegation but remarked that available reports indicate that the protests intensified following these two deaths. According to him, the Pakistani Army had to deploy additional troops to control the situation, resulting in an exceptionally heavy military presence in the area. He also stated that sources claim that at least ten to twelve pregnant women were targeted and that nearly three hundred people were killed during the first two days of the protests.

 

Shri Chauhan observed that a communication blackout had been imposed during the previous ten days, making it difficult to obtain reliable information from the region. He further alleged that the Pakistani Army had disrupted the food supply to the affected areas, thereby increasing public resentment. According to him, between 8,000 and 10,000 people continue to participate regularly in protests against the government. He also stated that youth from the region are crossing over to the Indian side and that many people have begun demanding independence from Pakistan. Nevertheless, he emphasised that access to information from the region remains severely restricted.

 

 

Concluding his address, Shri Chauhan referred to a case filed before the so-called AJK High Court by residents of PoJK. According to him, the judgement held that Mirpur, Muzaffarabad, Bhimber, Kotli and Gilgit-Baltistan are not part of Pakistan and that Pakistan therefore has no right to transfer these territories to China. He further stated that, for the first time, the Assembly passed a resolution concerning Pakistan's atrocities. Shri Chauhan emphasised the need for structured monitoring and systematic reporting on developments in the region. He concluded by stating that the real stakeholders and victims of the conflict are the people who belong to these regions and stressed the importance of creating greater awareness about developments in Pakistan-occupied and China-occupied areas of Jammu and Kashmir.

 

The presentations were followed by an interactive question-and-answer session, during which participants shared their observations and sought clarifications on various aspects of the discussion.

 

Shri G.L. Raina, former Member of the Legislative Council (MLC), Jammu and Kashmir, observed that the issue of representation extends beyond the twelve seats discussed during the presentations, pointing out that eight additional members are nominated. Referring to the 28th Amendment, he stated that its provision permitting the reorganisation of provinces has generated further apprehensions among the people of the region. Shri Raina further observed that Pakistan has divided the Shia-majority areas of Gilgit-Baltistan.

 

Shri Vinod Johri remarked that geopolitical factors remain extremely significant in the region and questioned how reunification with India could be achieved in such circumstances. He observed that India would need to remain prepared to address these challenges.

 

 

Responding to a question from the audience on whether cultural integration would pose difficulties in the event of reunification, Shri Ashutosh Bhatnagar acknowledged that the process would indeed be challenging. However, he emphasised that it was necessary to make such integration possible, adding that leaving Indian soil under occupation of Pakistan would be a far more difficult outcome.

 

Responding to the discussion on cultural integration, Shri Ranjan Chauhan referred to the historical chronicles of Jammu and Kashmir. He stated that Kalhana authored the early history of the region, which was subsequently continued by Jonaraja and later by Srivara, Prajya Bhat and Sukha. According to him, these works provide a chronological and systematic account of the region's history up to the sixteenth century. Shri Chauhan further observed that Muslims arrived in the region during the period of Śrīvara and that religious conversion subsequently emerged as an important issue. He stated that when the matter was raised during that period, it was mentioned that the complete conversion of the region would require another five to six generations.

 

In his concluding remarks, Dr Kuldeep Ratnoo observed that several important issues relating to Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir remain to be discussed. Referring once again to the map presented during the session, he noted that certain parts of the territory under Pakistan's control are presently under China's control, while other areas have been transferred by Pakistan to China.

 

Dr Ratnoo remarked that, in addition to people in PoJK, sections of the population living in other territories under Pakistan's control are also seeking freedom from Pakistan's rule. He mentioned about militancy and unrest in Baluchistan, KPK and Sindh regions. He observed that public dissatisfaction is growing and Pakistan's internal situation remains unstable. Referring to the protests taking place across PoJK, he stated that demonstrations against the government are occurring throughout the region.

 

Dr Ratnoo concluded by expressing the view that Pakistan is moving towards its final phase or eventual disintegration. Quoting Maharshi Aurobindo, he stated that the partition of India would eventually come to an end, as the partition carried out by the British would not endure indefinitely. He remarked that Bangladesh had already become independent and expressed the view that the remaining territories of Pakistan would also follow in due course.

 

 

The roundtable provided a detailed historical and contemporary overview of developments in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. The speakers discussed the historical evolution of the region, constitutional and political issues, socio-economic conditions, and the recent wave of protests. The discussion also highlighted the need for greater awareness, documentation and continued monitoring of developments in the region. The session concluded with an interactive discussion between the speakers and participants.