Life in Pakistan-administered Jammu Kashmir

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By Waheeda Jammu Kashmiri

I’m a Kashmiri from an area controlled by Pakistan. Here, the Pakistan Army is tightening its grip on us. They don’t like our protests and want to silence us. To do this, they have created a new group called the Ranger Force to suppress dissent. This worries me and many others because it feels like they are planning something worse—just as they have done in other parts of Pakistan.

The Ranger Force: A New Weapon of Oppression

The Pakistan-controlled government has approved the creation of the Ranger Force to “handle” the protests shaking Pakistan-controlled Kashmir. This isn’t a peacekeeping unit—it’s a hammer designed to crush dissent. Spread across 10 districts, the force will be led by lieutenant colonels, with three companies under majors, commanding 300 to 400 personnel across three divisions. Most alarmingly, 25% of this force will be non-locals—outsiders brought in to police us, signaling deep distrust in our own AJK police. The purpose is clear: to control and crush the Awami Action Committee’s (AAC) protests with ruthless efficiency.

This isn’t about maintaining order—it’s about domination. The inclusion of non-state individuals reveals a colonial mindset, treating us as subjects to be subdued rather than as citizens with rights. Local leaders and activists have erupted in outrage, seeing this as the first step in a broader campaign of suppression, much like what the Pakistan Army has inflicted on other regions.

This constitutes a flagrant violation of United Nations resolutions on Kashmir and the Jammu & Kashmir State Subject Rule of 1927.

The Jammu & Kashmir State Subject Rule of 1927 explicitly bars non-locals from acquiring property, land, or employment within the disputed territories of the former Princely State. Pakistan’s blatant defiance of this legal safeguard undermines the very principles it claims to uphold. While presenting itself as a defender of Kashmiri self-determination, Pakistan continues to trample international law, violate UN resolutions, and disregard the State Subject Rule—exposing its hypocrisy on the global stage.

What Local People Say

People here are upset and speaking out:

Saad Ansari, member of the Awami Action Committee Mirpur, says: “This is neither FATA nor Balochistan; this is Jammu and Kashmir. In Jammu and Kashmir, there were tall trees, and the pants of Rangers were seen on them in drone footage.”
Wasi Khawaja, an activist, states: “The government doesn’t trust our police, so they’re bringing in outsiders, and we will have to face them.”

Sardar Mehar Chughtai, member of the Awami Action Committee Bagh, vows to resist: “We will fight back, and we will win because we are right.”

Abid Rajorvi, member of JKLF, warns: “The recruitment and deployment of Rangers in Azad Kashmir, with a significant number of non-state individuals, is a strategic move aimed at controlling the Awami Action Committee. This will lead to instability similar to Balochistan, facilitating the execution of the 2019 agenda. This exercise is allegedly part of a broader scheme to merge Azad Kashmir’s three divisions with neighboring regions in Pakistan. Under this plan, Poonch, Bagh, Haveli, and Palandri will be integrated with Rawalpindi and Kahuta; Mirpur, Kotli, and Bhimber with Jhelum and Dina; and Muzaffarabad, Hattian Bala, and Neelum with Abbottabad and Hazara. The ultimate objective is to forcibly assimilate Kashmiris into Pakistan.”

How This Compares to Other Places

The Pakistan Army has done this before in places like Balochistan and FATA. In Balochistan, they have used force to suppress demands for freedom—many have disappeared or been killed. In FATA, they have destroyed homes and displaced people under the pretext of fighting terrorism. Now, they seem to be implementing the same strategy here with the Rangers. Just as they brought in outsiders to control those regions, they are doing the same to us. But unlike in those regions, our protests are peaceful—we only want our rights.

Why Doesn’t the World Know?

Major international newspapers rarely report on our situation. Perhaps it’s because Pakistan is their ally, or because it’s difficult for journalists to visit us. The government certainly doesn’t make it easy. This silence is dangerous, as it allows the army to act without scrutiny. That’s why we are turning to social media to share our reality with the world.

Final Thoughts

In my homeland, the Pakistan Army is working hard to suppress our voices. The Ranger Force is their latest tool, mirroring the oppression seen in Balochistan and FATA. Our leaders are fighting back, but the world isn’t listening. We need people to hear our cries and support our struggle for freedom. If they don’t, we risk losing our voice forever.