1 month ago
PoK Unrest Stemming from Decades of Neglect in Region
People in a region called Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir are upset because they have not been taken care of for many years.
They started protests in 2023 because prices are high, electricity is expensive, and they don’t have enough clean water or good hospitals.
A big dam moved many people and sends most of its power to Pakistan, leaving the local area with little electricity.
Some groups say the Pakistani military is running camps that help terrorists, which has made the protests even stronger.
The Indian army has attacked some of these camps, and the local people want peace and no more violence.
Decades of neglect in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir have fueled a grassroots movement since 2023, led by the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC).
Economic grievances—high inflation, steep electricity tariffs, and costly subsidised goods—have escalated into a broader political struggle.
PoK suffers severe infrastructure deficits: only one hospital for 150,000 residents, 50% lack clean drinking water, and 3,000 annual deaths from waterborne diseases.
The Mangla Dam’s construction displaced over 100,000 residents, with 80% of its electricity exported to Pakistan, leaving PoK with a power shortage.
The region hosts alleged terrorist training camps run by Pakistani military-backed groups, prompting Indian military Operation Sindoor and local protests demanding peace.
- Who
- Residents of Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee, Indian and Pakistani governments, and alleged terrorist groups
- What
- A widespread protest movement over economic hardship and alleged military terror infrastructure
- Where
- Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, especially Muzaffarabad and the Jhelum Valley
- When
- The movement began in 2023 and continues into 2024
- Why
- Long neglect, economic hardship, displacement, and military encroachment
Key facts
- Region
- Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK)
- Protest Start
- 2023
- Leading Group
- Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC)
- Key Issues
- Inflation, electricity tariffs, water scarcity, displacement
- Alleged Terror Infrastructure
- Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation, Jamaat-ud-Dawa, Idara Khidmat-e-Khalq, Al-Rashid Trust
Quotes
Ravi Verma
Geopolitics commentator and author of The Secretariat report
“"In the Jhelum Valley, 2,000 acres of fertile land have been converted into military installations. In Muzaffarabad, 5,000 acres of productive farmland have been repurposed for military purposes, further encroaching on the region's agricultural base."”
thehansindia.com
Sources
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