Several Kashmiri political representatives, who came to attend the Human Rights Council currently being held in Geneva, have alerted the international community to the explosive nature that Pakistan's appropriation of indigenous food and energy resources could take.
Since March, the discourse has not changed. Muhammad Sajjad Raja, founder of the National Equality Party Jammu Kashmir Gilgit Balistan and Lakadh (NEP JKGBL), has once again called on the international community to address Pakistan's ongoing violations of the civil and human rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. This situation has been ongoing since 1947.
The Kashmiri academic and politician, accompanied by other political representatives, all exiled from their homeland, did not mince his words in calling on the United Nations and the European Union to respond to this situation: "Pakistan promotes terrorism, reduces our women and children to slavery, and continues to instill fear. Anyone who dares to oppose it is killed." In September 2024, protests took place against the misuse of anti-terrorism laws to suppress dissent and silence voices opposing injustices in the region.
Wheat, a source of revolt
In addition to condemning this violence, Kashmiri opposition politicians pointed out that the former princely state of India had seen numerous protests against local administrations since the second half of 2023. Residents consider these administrations to be "powerless and entirely controlled by the Pakistani government, and, in reality, by the powerful Pakistani army."
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These uprisings are due to electricity shortages, but also to high inflation, particularly on food. The withdrawal of the long-standing government subsidy on wheat was one of the triggers for these insurrections, "the largest in the history of Kashmir,"according to political opponents in the world's fifth most populous country. In several regions, frustration with the illegal occupation has led some to chant slogans such as "give us autonomy or we will opt for India."
Pakistan promotes terrorism, reduces our women and children to slavery, and continues to spread fear. Anyone who dares to oppose it is killed.
Concrete proposals
These protests against local authorities reached their peak in mid-May 2024, with demonstrations leading to deadly clashes. "The demonstrations show that the policies of the colonial state of Pakistan, which exploits the resources of these regions in disregard of the property rights of the local population, are meeting with strong resistance," the opposition in "Little Tibet" jointly stated. The international community's intervention provided an opportunity for the NEP JKGBL to present concrete demands to resolve this historic crisis of revolt.
These include freezing wheat subsidies at 2022 levels and requiring the provision of nine kilograms of wheat per month to each inhabitant. In the energy sector, opposition representatives are in favor of providing free electricity from the Diamer-Bhasha dam. The plan would then be to pay 80% of the royalties to Gilgit-Baltistan, instead of water usage fees. This proposal comes after the discovery of a "disproportionate" diversion of hydroelectric resources from Azad Jammu and Kashmir to the Pakistani province of Punjab. This situation means that the indigenous population endures prolonged power cuts and inflated electricity prices. This context led to a boycott of electricity bills by the population in September 2023.
Are new clashes coming in Pakistan?
In addition, Kashmiri political representatives have expressed their desire to see "all mining leases granted to non-localscanceledand allocated to residents,"in addition to the awarding of contracts to local companies and the restoration of old trade routes. These proposals were given "favorable"consideration by local authorities at the beginning of the year. However, among opponents, as among the population, doubts remain. "The way in which successive Pakistani governments have pursued discriminatory policies in Azad Jammu and Kashmir virtually relegates its inhabitants to second-class citizens," denounce exiled political representatives. This demonstrates, according to them, "Islamabad's colonial approach."
The growing impatience of the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir with the Pakistani authorities is likely to manifest itself once again, opponents warn in a statement. "The Pakistani state shows little enthusiasm for fulfilling its commitments and satisfying the demands made by the population. The people have no intention of giving up their rights and will fight together." According to opponents of "Little Tibet," ifIslamabad's"brazen political, social, and economicinterference" continues in the future, Pakistan risks becoming "politically and economically" unstable in the days to come.
