Farzana Bibi, a Kashmiri woman who has been separated from her loved ones for decades due to the Line of Control, shared her emotional experience of living in a place of beauty and conflict in an interview. She revealed that during the peak of the Kashmir conflict in 1992, her family was always afraid of sending anything to their relatives across the border that could cause them harm.
“Thirty years ago, my uncle came to Pakistan and took soil from its land, placing it on his face and chest as a symbol of his love for his country. However, from 1992, the war in Kashmir reached its peak, and if we wrote any letters to our family there, they would warn us that the army might harm them. Therefore, we were always afraid of sending anything to them that could cause them physical or mental torture. My uncle used to tell us that they would hang him and force him to reveal who he knew in Pakistan, and If he didn’t tell them, they would kill him. There were curfews during that time, and I remember a time when we were in our car, and suddenly stones were thrown at us from behind. Fortunately, no one was injured, but the back mirror was broken. During those days, the situation was so severe that we wouldn’t even leave our homes because gunshots were heard everywhere.”
Farzana’s story is a testament to the human cost of the ongoing conflict in the region, where many families have been separated due to the Line of Control that divides the region into Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan-administered Azad Jammu and Kashmir. With a population of around 4.2 million people, AJK continues to suffer from the consequences of the conflict.
Raja Jalil Ahmad, Principal of Government Boys High School in Chakothi, AJK said, “On February 27th, at around 3 o’clock, this area was disturbed by firing from the Indian side. Several shells landed in the village of Chakothi, close to the LOC. Fortunately, no one was injured because it was nighttime. Since that day, people have been living in fear, and many of them have moved to other regions to feel safe.”
Living in border areas of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) poses immense challenges due to frequent ceasefire violations and military skirmishes. In February 2019, violence suddenly escalated in the region, with both sides accusing each other of violating the ceasefire agreement. In the same timeline, Yasin Malik, a prominent Kashmiri leader and the chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, was imprisoned in Tihar Jail in New Delhi. Recently, we had the opportunity to interview Mushaal Hussein Mullick, the wife of Yasin Malik, who spoke about the challenges faced by her husband and the need for justice for all political prisoners in the region.
“It is truly a miracle that my husband is still alive”
In her interview, Mushaal Hussein Mullick discussed the severe mistreatment that her husband and other Kashmiri youth faced at the hands of Indian state authorities. “The Kashmiri youth were tortured by Indian state authorities, and when Yasin, along with his friends, protested against the farcical elections that took place there, they were taken to the Red Sixteen torture center, where he faced third-degree torture. He became really sick and ill. He realized that there is no safe place for peaceful resistance or democratic processes to exist in so-called secular India when Kashmiris are not even part of India and demand their right to self-determination. It is truly a miracle that my husband is still alive. I remember in August 2019 when there was a strong rumor, while he was in jail in Tihar, that he was no more because he was beaten up and not well. For almost 4-5 days, it could not be confirmed that my husband was alive from any quarter. If you may recall, all phone lines or any forms of communication were shut, and he was in Delhi. It was one of the toughest times in our lives as a family because when you are in a continuous state of uncertainty and do not know how to react or where to knock the doors, and you do not know about his well-being, it’s just so uncertain. Even right now, he is not in good shape. Similar crimes against humanity were used as a weapon of war. Other such war crimes of genocidal acts and ethnic cleansing were committed. Why? Why are we here just to suffer? Why is it that when one person dies, it is a tragedy, but when millions are affected, as over one lakh Kashmiri people have been butchered by Indian bullets, killed, raped, or eliminated, why is it part of mere statistics? Are we just numbers? Is it just a number game? Is that the way to sympathize with us? No. The world will have to pay a heavy price if they do not take charge of the situation right now.”
The conflict in Kashmir has resulted in loss of lives, displacement of families, and disrupted education and healthcare services, causing emotional and psychological stress among the people. We talked to the President of Azad Jammu Kashmir who explained the several steps taken by the government with the help of organizations to resolve the issue of Kashmir and the factors affected due to it over the past years. The President of Azad Jammu Kashmir, Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry, who shared some insights into the matter said, “75 years have gone since united nations have passed the resolutions on Kashmir and clearly says that the future of Kashmir has to be determined according to the freewill and aspirations of the people of Kashmir. So since then the people have been struggling very hard. Initially there were some protests, hunger strikes but at one stage when there was a lot of oppression and subjugation on the people of Kashmir, then there was a resistance movement as well. They started to change the demography of occupied Kashmir and they’ve given 4.2 million fake domiciles to Indian Hindus so that they can settle there and in fact they started bulldozing people using the bulldozers to get the people out so that the people who have fake domiciles could settle there. And we also want to attract the international community’s interest over Kashmir and to also condemn Indian’s human right violations. And it’s not me saying, not Amnesty International saying, nor Human Rights Watch saying, but The United Nations Commission for Human Rights published a report in 2018 or 2019 and they asked for a question of inquiry to investigate the human rights violation in occupied Kashmir. So everybody agrees there are human rights violations going on and a lot of killings going on. India went to the UN and got the relief that there will be a cease fire and that’s why we had this cease fire line which later on became line of control although we Kashmiris were not a part of it and we still think it’s cease fire line.”
Despite the ongoing conflict, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) has witnessed significant development and progress, with the efforts of NGOs, international projects, and the government of Pakistan. “More than 70% of Pakistan’s electricity is generated from dams, and our own region, Azad Kashmir, is also being electrified by various projects,” said Raja Shaukat Iqbal, a Senior Analyst and Columnist. “Some of them are completed, while others are still in progress. Once all of these projects are finalized, they will provide a total of 7,000MW of electricity that relies on amount of water. The Mangla Dam in Mirpur generates 1100W and provides 29MW of electricity, while the Neelum-Jhelum hydropower plant generates 1000MW of electricity. There is also a project under construction that will provide 1000MW of electricity. Additionally, there is the Karot and Kaholi hydropower project, providing more than 5000MW of electricity. All of these projects contribute to Pakistan’s energy generation.” Several NGOs like the Aga Khan Foundation and Chinar International are running development projects to provide education, healthcare, and improve water supply.
Education is crucial for the development of individuals, communities, and nations. With combined efforts of the government and organizations in the AJK, now the literacy rate has increased to around 74%. The Boys School Chakothi provides quality education to boys in the region, despite being located near the sensitive Line of Control. The well-established Azad Jammu and Kashmir University has a modern campus, King Abdullah Campus, with state-of-the-art facilities that contribute to the growth of education in the area. However, the education of the young students in the region keeps getting affected due to the cross-border tensions.
“I think it’s very important for the world to realize that the Kashmiri youth have suffered for 75 years, one generation to the other. The way that the conflict has been transferred through generations, they’ve suffered psychologically, politically, economically, and religiously. Psychological trauma continues, and in such an environment, to continue your education, when for months and months there are lockdowns and curfews and this uncertainty. Our students are protesting in uniforms in illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, young kids are burning their school bags because they are not allowed to go to school. This is happening in the 21st century, where pencils, books, and bags are being burned, and army camps are located within school premises. How can we expect Kashmiri youth to flourish or have positivity towards global world orders, international norms, and treaties when none of them are being implemented or applicable to us?” Mushtaal Hussein Malick, the wife of Yasin Malik stated.
Türkiye has been actively involved in the development of the region
Türkiye has been actively involved in the development of the region,” said Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry, AJK President. “They inaugurated a new hospital in Rawalakot in 2022, providing free medical treatment to the local population, and launched other projects such as road construction and vocational training centers, along with the establishment of a Turkish school in Mirpur. I went to Turkiye to raise the Kashmir issue and met with Parliamentarians and the Vice Chairman of the ruling party, among others. They have a lot of interest in Kashmir and support our right to self-determination as well. The government of Pakistan has also launched several development projects, including the construction of the Mangla Dam, vocational training centers, and microfinance loans.”
Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) is a region known for its stunning natural beauty, with snow-capped mountains, cascading waterfalls, and dense forests that attract more than a million visitors each year. The region is also culturally rich, with hospitable people, vibrant traditions, and unique handicrafts. To further boost tourism, AJK has plans to establish a new destination along the Neelum River, creating employment opportunities for locals. While tourism is a significant contributor to the economy, generating approximately USD 73 million in 2019, agriculture, forestry, and industry also support the region’s growth. However, a solution to the Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan would accelerate progress and foster better relations between the two countries.
“United States is one of the players and man of the issues on their concern about it on human rights issue as well and a solution of Kashmir because they know very well that you will not have peace in this region until and unless this issue of Kashmir is resolved,” said Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry (AJK PRESIDENT). “I think that if India and Pakistan didn’t have their conflict over Kashmir then there would’ve been a more friendly relationship between Pakistan and India, and we would also not have much problem in Afghanistan as well. I think India and Pakistan should have dialogue generally and over Kashmir, but the core issue between India and Pakistan is Kashmir and over other issues, but one thing I want to make clear on this stage is that this is not a bilateral issue. It’s an issue of the people of Kashmir so in any future talk between India and Pakistan, and they should have a bilateral talk, but ultimately, there should be an attempt to have dialogue so that we could have some solution.”
The people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir have demonstrated remarkable strength in the face of the conflict that has plagued their lives for decades. Despite the challenges, AJK has made significant progress in education and other areas of development, highlighting the immense potential of the region with stability and peace. However, the situation in Indian-occupied Kashmir remains dire, and the conflict has had a devastating impact on its people. If the conflict were to end, both regions could witness growth and development, leading to peace and prosperity. As we support peace and stability in the region, we must recognize the human toll and work towards a future that brings hope and prosperity to all the people of Kashmir.