Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK)

As of 2026, Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) remains the most critical flashpoint in South Asia. Referred to by Pakistan as “Azad Jammu & Kashmir” (AJK) and “Gilgit-Baltistan” (GB), the region is internationally recognized as a disputed territory, while India maintains its status as an integral and sovereign part of the Indian Union.

The year 2025 marked a significant escalation in tensions following a major terror attack in Pahalgam, leading to India’s most assertive military and diplomatic response in decades.

PoK comprises those parts of the original Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir that were illegally occupied by Pakistan following the 1947-48 war. It is divided into two distinct administrative units:

• Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK): The southern strip bordering the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Its administrative capital is Muzaffarabad.
• Gilgit-Baltistan (GB): The northern and much larger region (forming 86% of PoK), which shares borders with China and Afghanistan. It is strategically vital as it provides the only land link between Pakistan and China.

Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir: Historical Background

The dispute is rooted in the events of the mid-20th century:

1. 1947 Accession: Following the tribal invasion backed by the Pakistani military, Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession to join India.
2. 1948 Ceasefire: After the first Indo-Pak war, a UN-mediated ceasefire created a “Ceasefire Line,” later renamed the Line of Control (LoC) after the 1972 Shimla Agreement.
3. 1949 Karachi Agreement: This formalized the ceasefire line and established the administrative separation of Gilgit-Baltistan from AJK by Pakistan.
4. 1994 Parliamentary Resolution: In a landmark move, the Indian Parliament passed a unanimous resolution stating that Pakistan must vacate the areas of the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir, which they have occupied through aggression.

PoK Constitutional and Legal Position in India

India’s legal claim to PoK is absolute and non-negotiable:

1. Sovereignty: Under the Indian Constitution and the J&K Constitution (before 2019), the entire state is part of India. Even in the J&K Legislative Assembly, 24 seats are reserved for the people of PoK and remain vacant.
2. Non-Recognition: India rejects the “Azad Kashmir” government as a puppet administration and considers all political or legislative actions taken by Pakistan in GB and AJK, such as the 2009 Empowerment Order as null and void.
3. Territorial Integrity: India views the construction of foreign projects (like China’s CPEC) in these areas as a direct violation of its sovereignty.

PoK Strategic Importance

The region is a geopolitical crossroads with immense military and economic value:

1. China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC): This $60+ billion project passes through Gilgit-Baltistan. It gives China direct access to the Arabian Sea (Gwadar Port), bypassing the Malacca Strait.
2. Terror Infrastructure: Indian intelligence has long identified PoK as a “nursery for terror,” housing launchpads for groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) in valleys such as Neelum, Kotli, and Bhimber.
3. Hydro-Strategic Power: The region controls the flow of major rivers (Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab). Dams like the Mangla Dam and the Neelum-Jhelum project are vital for Pakistan’s energy security.
4. Military Depth: The high-altitude terrain provides a natural defensive shield and observation points over the Kashmir Valley.

Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) Developments in 2025

The year 2025 witnessed a “New Normal” in India’s counter-terrorism strategy:

• Pahalgam Terror Attack (April 22, 2025): Terrorists infiltrated from PoK and struck the Baisaran Valley (Pahalgam), killing 26 people, primarily Hindu tourists and one local Muslim hero, Syed Adil Hussain Shah, who tried to stop them.
• Operation Sindoor (May 2025): In a massive tri-services retaliation, the Indian Air Force and Army launched Operation Sindoor. Precision strikes targeted nine terror camps across PoK and deep inside Pakistan (including Bahawalpur and Muridke). Over 100 terrorists were reportedly neutralized.
• Diplomatic Fallout: In the aftermath, India placed the Indus Waters Treaty in “abeyance” for the first time. Pakistan retaliated by suspending the 1972 Shimla Agreement, an act that India argues further weakens Pakistan’s legal standing by removing the bilateral constraints on the LoC.

International Perspective and Human Rights

While Pakistan portrays the region as self-governing, international observers frequently highlight:

• Lack of Freedoms: Suppression of the press and political dissent in Gilgit-Baltistan.
• Sectarian Tensions: Persecution of the local Shia majority in GB by state-sponsored extremist elements.
• Global Recognition: No major world power recognizes PoK as part of Pakistan. Even the UN maintains its status as “disputed,” while India’s recent military and diplomatic assertiveness has found increased backing from allies like the US, UAE, and Israel.