| S |
ix years after India’s unilateral abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019, the future of Jammu and Kashmir remains fiercely contested. The region’s special status, once a symbol of its constitutional autonomy, was stripped overnight. The state was bifurcated into two Union territories under direct federal control. Recent hostilities between India and Pakistan have once again thrust the Kashmir issue into the international spotlight, further straining bilateral relations.
Article 370 had granted Jammu and Kashmir autonomy over all matters except foreign affairs, defence, finance and communications. It had its constitution, flag and restrictions on land ownership by outsiders. Following the fateful legislation, Kashmiris woke up to find roads barricaded by troops and communication networks cut off. Anuradha Bhasin, in her book A Dismantled State: The Untold Story of Kashmir After Article 370, chronicles how Kashmiris were “cocooned in their homes, trapped between concertina wires and barricades.” Yet the officials claimed that “not a drop of blood was shed.” The Indian government said the move was aimed at integrating the J&K and spur development. Many Kashmiri observers saw it as an attempt to centralise power and dilute local identity.
For Kashmiri politicians and families, the long-delayed elections in 2024 offered a glimmer of hope. Voters turned out in force: roughly 64 percent of registered voters cast ballots in the October 2024 legislative elections, higher than the 58.5 percent turnout in the 2024 Indian polls. The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, a pro-India party, won 42 of 90 seats; the BJP took 29. Many saw this as a chance to restore local autonomy and address grievances, especially the jailing of thousands of Kashmiris since 2019 under anti-terror laws. The JKNC had promised to free these “political prisoners” and transfer them closer to home. However, its government has not delivered any tangible improvement.
The April 22 Pahalgam attack, which left 26 dead, shattered the post-election hopes of many Kashmiris for the release of political prisoners. The killings triggered a sweeping crackdown across Kashmir. Thousands of people, many with no known links to militancy, were detained or questioned under draconian laws. Shakeela, a Srinagar mother whose son has been jailed since 2022, told Al Jazeera her quiet optimism after the polls “quickly faded” with the attack. Like many others, she feared the renewed security operations would further delay her son’s release and prolong the collective punishment faced by Kashmiri families.
According to The Guardian, after the Pahalgam attack, a massive operation was launched to track down the militants. More than 2,000 people were detained; many pulled from their homes at night and held under harsh anti-terror laws. Security forces raided homes without warrants and even demolished properties linked to suspects. Indian officials insist that these measures are necessary for national security, but many Kashmiris fear the original grievances and civil liberties that the 2024 vote had promised to address will again be sidelined.
The Kashmir issue once again drew global attention in May 2025 when a ceasefire was brokered between India and Pakistan after an intense border confrontation. US President Donald Trump publicly celebrated the ceasefire and offered to mediate a settlement in Kashmir. “I will work with both of you to see if, after a ‘thousand years,’ a solution can be arrived at concerning Kashmir,” he said. While Pakistan welcomed the offer, reminding the world that any just settlement must reflect UN resolutions and Kashmiri aspirations, India reiterated its rejection of third-party mediation. The episode underscored the ongoing potential for international escalation, and calls grew for the global community to play a more active role in resolving the dispute.
The April 22 Pahalgam attack, which left 26 dead, shattered the post-election hopes of many Kashmiris for the release of political prisoners. The killings triggered a sweeping crackdown across Occupied Kashmir.
The unresolved Kashmir dispute continues to loom as a dangerous flashpoint between two nuclear-armed neighbours, India and Pakistan. With both countries having fought multiple wars and engaged in frequent military standoffs over the region, the risk of escalation remains alarmingly high. The Pahalgam attack once again pushed tensions to the brink, prompting border skirmishes and raising fears of a larger conflict. Without a sustained political dialogue and a just resolution that includes the voices of Kashmiris, even a small incident could spiral into a catastrophic confrontation. Addressing the Kashmir issue is not just a regional imperative, it is vital for preventing a potential nuclear crisis in South Asia.
Six years after the revocation of Article 370, arbitrary detentions remain central to India’s control over Kashmir. Thousands have been jailed under sweeping laws like the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Public Safety Act, often without formal charges or fair trials. Yasin Malik, chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, was sentenced to life in 2022 despite having renounced violence decades earlier. Human rights groups call his conviction politically motivated, pointing to the revival of old cases, denial of fair trial procedures and his restricted court access.
Shabir Ahmad Shah, one of Kashmir’s most prominent pro-self-determination leaders, has spent over 39 years in detention, including eight consecutive years in Delhi’s Tihar Jail. First arrested at 14 for organising protests, Shah has spent decades in prison, mostly without conviction. Amnesty International declared him a Prisoner of Conscience in 1993. Despite serious health issues and flimsy evidence against him, courts continue to deny him bail. In a recent statement Mehmood Ahmed Saghar, senior APHC-AJK leader, praised Shah’s unwavering commitment to Kashmir’s cause, calling his prolonged detention a clear case of political vendetta.
The digital sphere in Kashmir has also seen little relief. India continues to lead democracies in internet shutdowns, with 84 recorded in 2024 alone, second only to Myanmar. These blackouts often coincide with protests or communal tensions. In 2024, officials said, 41 shutdowns were aimed at quelling demonstrations and 23 to prevent sectarian violence. Jammu and Kashmir saw 12 such cuts, ranking third after Manipur and Haryana. Rights groups argue that these shutdowns not only restrict freedom of expression but also deepen Kashmir’s isolation, hindering access to news, emergency services and education.
Yet on one key metric, Kashmir’s status appears to have improved. According to Freedom House’s 2025 report, Indian-administered Kashmir moved from “Not Free” to “Partly Free.” This upgrade followed the 2024 elections—the first legislative polls since 2014—and the formation of a partially elected government. While international observers praised the peaceful conduct and strong turnout, many Kashmiris remain sceptical. Full statehood has not been restored, and in early 2025, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirmed that the post-2019 reorganisation would remain in place. Civil liberties continue to be curtailed through repressive laws, media restrictions and ongoing detentions.
Six years after August 2019, Kashmir remains a land of contrasts. On one hand, elections, diplomatic interest and global attention offer cautious hope for political engagement. On the other hand, the reality of arbitrary detentions, communication blackouts and fears of demographic change continues to define everyday life for many. The clash between New Delhi’s integrationist policies and the local population’s demands for dignity and autonomy remains unresolved. Anuradha Bhasin argues in her book that what happened in Kashmir is emblematic of Indian democracy’s slide toward authoritarianism, an urgent and revealing story of a land “India desperately wants to make its own.”
The writer is a freelance contributor from Azad Jammu and Kashmir, currently pursuing an MS in development studies at NUST, Islamabad. She can be reached at hunainmehmud101gmail.com and on X: hunain_mahmood.