Published: 02:42 PM, 24 June 2026
‘Azad Kashmir’: Pakistan’s ultimate political oxymoron
Security personnel patrol a street during Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC)'s rally, held days after the local government banned the protest group under anti-terror laws in Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on June 9, 2026. AFP
”In the grand theater of Pakistani politics, the definition of ‘Azad’ has been completely flipped: it implies the freedom to obey, the freedom to be economically exploited, and the freedom to be occupied under the guise of autonomy”
The geopolitical dictionary of Pakistan contains a linguistic anomaly where the word “Azad” (free) translates in practice to “occupied”.
In the grand theatre of Pakistani politics, the definition of Azad has been completely flipped: it implies the freedom to obey, the freedom to be economically exploited, and the freedom to be occupied under the guise of autonomy.
Pakistan officially brands the portion of Kashmir which it occupies as Azad (Free) Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). However, a closer look reveals a masterclass in satire. In Islamabad’s political lexicon, “Azad” appears to stand for “Actually, Zero Autonomy Delivered”, transforming a so-called free territory into an occupied one.
In standard Urdu, “Azad” denotes the blissful state of liberty. However, when applied to the region of ‘AJK’, the word undergoes a dramatic transformation. It becomes a unique brand of freedom where the local population is only free to agree with whatever Islamabad decides. It is an example of manipulative modern marketing: why label a territory ‘administered’ or ‘occupied’ when you can brand it instead as a sovereign paradise?
Constitutional Illusion
The ultimate expression of this liberty is enshrined in the ‘AJK Constitution’: no one is permitted to hold public office or express views contrary to the ideology of the territory’s accession to Pakistan. It is a beautiful, democratic system where citizens have the absolute right to choose, provided they choose exactly what is expected of them by their rulers sitting in Islamabad.
Thus, the satirical brilliance of the arrangement begins with the electoral process. Aspiring leaders of ‘AJK’ are required to sign a strict ideological oath swearing allegiance not just to the state but also to its accession to Pakistan. Candidates who dream of a genuinely ‘Azad’ or independent state are promptly shown the door by the Election Commission. It is democracy with a foolproof safety valve: the people are completely free to choose any leader they want, provided that leader is fundamentally a proxy of the federal government.
The infrastructure of this freedom is built on subtle paradoxes. ‘AJK’ boasts its own president, its own prime minister, its own legislative assembly and its own flag. This gives it the majestic appearance of an independent nation. It has all the cinematic props of a sovereign state. Yet, looking closely at these institutions is like watching a pantomime; the actors deliver dramatic lines, but the script and the puppet strings are controlled entirely by Islamabad.
The real power flows silently through the Kashmir Council in Islamabad, chaired by the Pakistani Prime Minister. The local leadership enjoys the freedom of hosting lavish state dinners while Islamabad retains total authority over managing the budget, foreign policy, internal security and the extent to which the right to freedom of expression can be exercised.
Thus, Pakistan’s relationship with the occupied Kashmir region proves a timeless rule of political surrender. In Islamabad’s view, true freedom is never, ever questioning who actually runs the show.
When ‘Azad’ Spells ‘Occupation’
The occupation-disguised-as-liberation is best observed through the economic and administrative realities of the region. The people of ‘AJK’ have frequently found themselves protesting crushing taxes, soaring inflation, and exorbitant electricity tariffs. But in an irrational, Kafkaesque twist, when citizens of an “Azad” region exercise their basic democratic right to march for affordable wheat and cheaper electricity, the response from Islamabad is heavily militarised. Peaceful protests have resulted in violent crackdowns, internet blackouts and the deployment of paramilitary forces. Demanding economic relief is treated by Islamabad not as the grievance of free citizens, but as a severe affront to its authority.
Brutal Security Crackdown
The so-called ‘Azad Jammu and Kashmir’ is now engulfed in deadly civilian unrest following a brutal security crackdown by Pakistani forces on widespread protests. The violence escalated sharply in early June 2026 after regional authorities banned the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), a prominent civil society alliance which has been organising mass strikes against soaring inflation, high electricity tariffs and Islamabad’s heavy bureaucratic control.
The standoff turned lethal when police opened fire with live ammunition and tear gas on demonstrators, resulting in an estimated 30 to 46 civilian deaths and over 200 injuries. To contain the spiralling revolt, Islamabad deployed thousands of additional forces, enforced a sweeping communications blackout, heavily restricted food transit into the area and issued a Rs 1 crore bounty for information leading to the arrest of four key leaders of the JAAC who led the protests.
Thus, in a dazzling display of ‘benevolent governance’, Pakistani authorities have shown the residents of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir exactly how ‘Azad’ they are and how Islamabad will crush their basic economic grievances. In the political philosophy of the Pakistan government, nothing conveys the message ‘we care’ as convincingly as classifying peaceful protestors as ’terrorists’, placing a bounty on their leaders and responding to demands for affordable electricity with the sheer voltage of state-sponsored bullets.
A Double-Standard Playbook
At the international level, Pakistan fiercely champions the right to self-determination for Kashmiris residing in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. Yet, at home, its political culture lays down an entirely different playbook for its own backyard. Islamabad has established tight administrative chokeholds, ensuring that the local government remains heavily subservient.
Pakistan frequently attempts to sell its “Kashmir solidarity” narrative to the residents of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), yet the locals remain decidedly unconvinced. They increasingly observe that Islamabad is offering them batons instead of bread and bullets instead of electricity subsidies. Observing the infrastructural and economic growth on the other side, residents are increasingly inclined to see Pakistani propaganda as a theatrical distraction from their own grievances over resource exploitation.
In short, people in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) are fully aware that, in contrast to their own plight, residents of Jammu and Kashmir in India enjoy the freedom of democratic elections, a higher income and far better infrastructure, medical, and educational facilities.
Conclusion
In the grand theater of Pakistani politics, the definition of Azad has been completely flipped: it implies the freedom to obey, the freedom to be economically exploited, and the freedom to be occupied under the guise of autonomy. Ultimately, Pakistan’s portrayal of ‘Azad Kashmir’ is the ultimate act of political satire. It is a territory where you must legally surrender your independence to become a lawmaker and where demanding basic human rights is practically labelled a treasonous act.
In Islamabad’s view, nothing conveys the message “we care about your welfare” as effectively as enforcing curfews, implementing internet blackouts, and deploying paramilitary forces to remind the citizens that their only true democratic right is the privilege to foot the bill. Ultimately, the region stands as a shining testament to a unique economic model where the local public contributes 100 per cent of the resources, receives 0 per cent of the returns, and is expected to maintain a 100 per cent approval rating of their rulers sitting in Islamabad.
In a stunning display of anti-establishment defiance, citizens of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir have decided that skyrocketing electricity bills, acute flour shortages, and the aggressive extraction of their natural resources are no longer things they wish to tolerate. Islamabad, deeply hurt by this apparent lack of ‘appreciation’, continues to deploy more paramilitary forces to try to remind the population that their lives could become even more ‘azad’, while simultaneously cutting off internet access to ensure the locals are not distracted by the outside world.
Written by: Prabhu Dayal (The writer is a retired Indian diplomat and had previously served as ambassador in Kuwait and Morocco and as Consul General in New York. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author.)
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