POK on edge, Zojila cheer in India: The tale of two Kashmirs divided by LoC
Rawalakot, Muzaffarabad and Mirpur. These towns in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK) have been rocked by unrest, detentions and killings that have challenged Islamabad's authority in the
Rawalakot, Muzaffarabad and Mirpur. These towns in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK) have been rocked by unrest, detentions and killings that have challenged Islamabad's authority in the region. Just a hundred kilometres to the east, across the Line of Control (LoC), the mood is one of progress. Not protests. Engineers in Baltal, Sonamarg and Minamarg on Tuesday met deep beneath the Himalayas to celebrate the breakthrough of the strategically vital Zojila Tunnel in Jammu and Kashmir. The engineering marvel is expected to result in Asia's longest bidirectional tunnel upon completion. The all-weather Zojila Tunnel will connect J&K to Ladakh. Read Full Story The two developments, unfolding almost simultaneously on opposite sides of the LoC, show the divergent paths of the two parts of Kashmir, territories that Pakistan's misadventures in 1947 split into two different realities. While the entire Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh, Gilgit-Baltistan and the Shaksgam Valley are integral parts of India and are central to its territorial sovereignty, Pakistan has continued to occupy parts of the region since 1947. On one side, POK is witnessing unrest over governance, inflation, political representation and allegations of state repression. On the other, India marked a major infrastructure milestone with the breakthrough of the 13.15-km Zojila Tunnel. The project follows a decade of infrastructure expansion and public investment in Jammu and Kashmir. Once operational, the tunnel would end the annual winter isolation of vast areas beyond the Zojila Pass in Ladakh. Most importantly, the contrast goes beyond just the Zojila Tunnel or a single agitation. Over the last decade, Jammu and Kashmir has seen sustained investments in highways, tunnels, railways, power projects and tourism infrastructure. The Z-Morh Tunnel, Chenab Rail Bridge, Jammu-Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link and Zojila Tunnel are part of India's broader push to improve connectivity and integrate remote areas with the rest of the country.
Meanwhile, POK has witnessed recurring protests over electricity tariffs, wheat prices, governance and political representation. A growing public anger against Islamabad's handling of the region has often been highlighted in these protests in POK. ONE REGION ON EDGE, ANOTHER BREAKS THROUGH Tuesday, June 9, was a day of two headlines. In POK, authorities moved to block a planned long march by the banned Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), days after deadly clashes in Rawalakot killed dozens. Official reports put the death toll at 11, though some activists and reports claimed a significantly higher number of casualties. Internet services have been suspended, hundreds have been detained, and security forces remain deployed across the region amid fears of further unrest. In India, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari attended the final breakthrough of the Zojila Tunnel in Jammu and Kashmir, where workers excavating from the Kashmir and Ladakh sides finally met underground. The 13.15-km tunnel, located at an altitude of around 11,500 feet, will become one of the world's longest single-tube bi-directional road tunnels and provide year-round connectivity between Kashmir and Ladakh. The tunnel will reduce travel time across the snowbound Zojila Pass and ensure that Ladakh remains connected even during winters, when heavy snowfall shuts the highway for months. The Zojila Tunnel is expected to be operational by 2028. HOW SAME GRIEVANCES, EVERY YEAR, KEEP FUELLING PROTESTS IN POK However, the story of the two sides of Kashmir did not begin this week. For years, people of POK have protested over high electricity bills, inflation, prices of basic food items and the Pakistani establishment's dominance in governance and representation. The JAAC, which is at the fore of the current agitation, itself emerged as a movement against economic distress in POK. The protests then broadened as the Pakistan Punjab-led administration reserved 12 seats for non-residents and more autonomy.
The BriefWire