FROM “KASHMIR BANEGA PAKISTAN” TO “WHO WILL LISTEN TO THE KASHMIRIS?”

For decades, Kashmir was told that Pakistan was its voice before the world. Whenever the Kashmir issue was raised internationally, Pakistan spoke of human rights, political rights, freedom of expression, justice, dignity, and the right of Kashmiris to be heard.

Mir Mushtaq

7/18/20262 min read

A Kashmiri’s Open Letter to Power

Mir Mushtaq

I write today not as an Indian, not as a Pakistani, but as a Kashmiri.

Generations of Kashmiris grew up hearing and repeating slogans such as:

“Kashmir Banega Pakistan.”

“Pakistan Se Rishta Kya? La Ilaha Illallah.”

“Jeevay Jeevay Pakistan.”

Many Kashmiris believed these slogans with all their hearts. Some suffered imprisonment, harassment, and social pressure because of their political beliefs. Many defended Pakistan in every debate, every argument, and every discussion about Kashmir.

Today, however, I ask a painful question.

What does Pakistan say to those very Kashmiris now?

The recent unrest and controversy in Azad Jammu and Kashmir have shocked many people. Reports of deaths, injuries, arrests, restrictions, and political confrontation have left ordinary citizens asking difficult questions.

The same people who were once described as representatives of public concerns suddenly found themselves at the centre of a political crisis.

The same movement that was once engaged in talks and agreements became the subject of severe confrontation.

As a Kashmiri, I ask:

If dialogue was possible yesterday, why is confrontation necessary today?

The people raising their voices in AJK have publicly spoken about issues such as governance, economic hardship, affordable electricity, implementation of agreements, local ownership of resources, Haq-e-Hukamrani, and Haq-e-Malkiat.

These are not extraordinary demands.

These are the kinds of demands citizens make in every society.

Yet today the streets of AJK echo with frustration.

And that frustration is forcing Kashmiris to ask questions they never imagined asking.

For decades, Pakistan criticised India whenever restrictions were imposed in Jammu and Kashmir.

Pakistan told the world that the voice of Kashmiris must be respected.

Pakistan argued that political grievances cannot be solved through force.

Pakistan insisted that the world listen to the people.

These arguments carried moral weight because they were based on principles.

But principles must apply everywhere.

Not only when they are politically convenient.

Today, many Kashmiris are asking:

If the voice of Kashmiris matters in one part of Kashmir, does it not matter in another?

This question is not limited to AJK.

From Jammu and Ladakh to every corner of AJK, people are no longer asking for promises they are demanding answers: Who hears their voice, who defends their rights, and who will answer for their Feature?

The lesson is simple.

People can be governed.

People can be persuaded.

But people cannot be permanently ignored.

As an ordinary Kashmiri, I ask one final question.

What answer will be given to those generations of Kashmiris who spent decades raising slogans in support of Pakistan, defending Pakistan’s position before the world, and believing Pakistan represented their hopes?

This article is not written to support India.

Nor is it written to attack Pakistan.

It is written to defend a principle greater than both.

The principle that every Kashmiri deserves dignity.

Every Kashmiri deserves a voice.

Every Kashmiri deserves to be heard.

History will not remember who shouted the loudest.

History will remember who listened when their own people spoke.

And today, Kashmiris are speaking.