India Calls PoK Protests a Clear Outcome of Pakistan’s Oppression and Exploitation of Kashmir’s Resources
India Calls PoK Protests a Clear Outcome of Pakistan’s Oppression and Exploitation of Kashmir’s Resources
By Sandip Singh Rajput | Source Reference: Reuters, BBC News, Al Jazeera, United Nations Reports, Jio News
(Published on [Amezing News And Free Tools Kit] https://www.amezingtoolkit.in)
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The recent wave of protests in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) has drawn the world’s attention once again to the plight of the Kashmiri people living under Pakistan’s control. India has strongly reacted to these demonstrations, describing them as the “clear outcome of Pakistan’s decades-long oppression and exploitation of Kashmir’s natural resources.”
This statement is not merely political rhetoric. It reflects a deeper reality that has been building up for decades. The protests in PoK are not just about temporary dissatisfaction—they represent accumulated anger over systematic neglect, economic exploitation, lack of basic rights, and the suffocation of local voices.
Rising Protests in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir
Over the past few weeks, thousands of people in cities like Muzaffarabad, Kotli, and Gilgit-Baltistan have taken to the streets. Protesters have demanded better living conditions, affordable electricity, job opportunities, and freedom from the heavy-handed tactics of the Pakistani administration.
The PoK protests 2025 highlight a truth long suppressed—residents of the region are tired of being treated as second-class citizens in their own land. Despite PoK’s rich water and mineral resources, its people struggle with power shortages, unemployment, and poor infrastructure.
The irony is clear: Kashmir’s rivers and hydro-power projects supply energy to Pakistan, but local people themselves suffer from electricity cuts. This paradox has become one of the strongest reasons behind the public anger in PoK.
India’s Strong Response
India has consistently maintained that the entire region of Jammu and Kashmir, including Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, is an integral part of its territory. When the protests erupted, New Delhi underlined that the situation was a direct result of Pakistan’s exploitation and mismanagement.
According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs, Pakistan has turned PoK into a colony—using its land and water for profit while denying the people even basic governance. India has highlighted that human rights violations in PoK are rising every year, with freedom of speech, media, and political rights heavily restricted.
By calling the unrest a “natural outcome,” India emphasizes that no community can remain silent forever under exploitation. The current demonstrations are proof that people are willing to risk their lives to demand justice.
Pakistan’s Exploitation of PoK Resources
One of the central reasons for the protests is the way Pakistan has handled PoK’s resources. The Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project and other dams have been designed to serve Pakistan’s urban centers, but local villages often remain in darkness.
Similarly, the region’s forests, minerals, and rivers have been extracted for Pakistan’s benefit. Despite this wealth, PoK ranks among the most underdeveloped regions in South Asia. Education, healthcare, and road connectivity remain far below international standards.
Experts believe that Pakistan has deliberately kept the region weak so that any demand for self-governance or independence can be suppressed. This has fueled resentment that is now exploding in the form of large-scale protests against Pakistan’s oppression.
Human Rights Concerns in PoK
International human rights organizations have often expressed concern about the situation in PoK. Reports suggest:
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Suppression of free media and silencing of journalists who criticize Pakistan.
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Arbitrary arrests of activists demanding autonomy.
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Discrimination against locals in employment opportunities.
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Militarization of civilian areas, making daily life difficult.
The Gilgit-Baltistan protests earlier also exposed Pakistan’s failure to provide governance. Instead of addressing grievances, Pakistan has often used force, leading to clashes between security forces and civilians.
India’s Call for Global Attention
India has urged the international community to take note of the reality in PoK. While Pakistan often raises Kashmir-related issues at global forums, New Delhi argues that the real victims of injustice are the people living under Pakistan’s control.
Indian officials have stressed that:
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The protests show that Pakistan has failed its own citizens in PoK.
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The exploitation of water and land resources violates international norms.
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The people of PoK deserve the same rights and dignity as any other community in the world.
This shift in focus aims to challenge Pakistan’s narrative and highlight that Kashmir unrest inside PoK is homegrown, not externally driven.
Historical Context: Why PoK Matters
To understand the protests, one must look back at history. When India was partitioned in 1947, Pakistan invaded parts of Kashmir and illegally occupied areas that are now called Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.
Since then, Pakistan has maintained control, but without offering full political rights. Unlike provinces in Pakistan, PoK has no real representation in the national parliament. Even its local government operates under strict supervision from Islamabad.
This colonial-style administration has left generations of people without real autonomy. Over time, the gap between promises and reality has grown so wide that frustration has turned into mass protests.
Voices from Within PoK
Many residents have bravely spoken against the exploitation. Activists argue that if Pakistan can develop cities like Lahore and Karachi with PoK’s resources, then why can’t the people of Muzaffarabad and Gilgit-Baltistan enjoy the same benefits?
The local youth movements in PoK are gaining momentum, calling for transparency, accountability, and equal rights. Social media has become a powerful tool for these activists to bypass censorship and share their voices with the world.
International Reactions
So far, the global response has been muted. However, analysts believe that as the protests grow larger, international organizations may be forced to take a stand. Already, some human rights bodies have demanded independent monitoring of the situation in PoK.
The geopolitical significance of the region—lying close to China and Central Asia—makes it a sensitive issue. But India insists that humanitarian concerns should not be ignored because of political calculations.
Pakistan’s Dilemma
For Pakistan, the protests are a warning sign. On one side, it wants to project itself as the “protector of Kashmir,” while on the other, its own people in PoK are rejecting that claim. The image of Pakistan as a defender of Kashmiri rights is now being challenged by the reality of oppression inside PoK.
Islamabad faces a dilemma: whether to allow more autonomy and risk losing control, or to suppress protests and face global criticism. Either way, the unrest has weakened Pakistan’s political narrative on Kashmir.
India’s Strategic Advantage
India’s strong diplomatic response to the PoK protests has helped shift the conversation. Instead of always defending against Pakistan’s claims, New Delhi is now highlighting the injustice faced by people in PoK.
By consistently pointing to oppression, exploitation, and protests in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, India is strengthening its case at the global stage. This strategy is likely to gain more traction as the situation in PoK worsens.
The Road Ahead for PoK
The future of PoK depends on whether the grievances of its people are addressed. If Pakistan continues with its policies of exploitation, the protests will likely grow stronger and more frequent. Calls for freedom, autonomy, and justice in PoK may become impossible to suppress.
For India, the strategy will be to keep international attention focused on the issue, highlight human rights violations, and expose Pakistan’s double standards on Kashmir.
Ultimately, the voices rising from Muzaffarabad and Gilgit-Baltistan are a reminder that no government can silence people forever. Justice, dignity, and equality are universal demands—and in PoK, these demands are getting louder every day.
The End
The protests in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir are not an accident. They are the natural and inevitable outcome of decades of oppression, neglect, and exploitation by Pakistan. India’s statement rightly captures this reality: no amount of propaganda can hide the truth that people are standing up against injustice.
As the world watches, the struggle of PoK residents should not be ignored. Their courage deserves recognition, and their demands for rights, dignity, and justice must find global support.
✍️ Author Bio
Sandip Singh Rajput is the founder and editor of Amezing News And Free Tools Kit, a platform dedicated to transparent global reporting and educational innovation. With a focus on factual storytelling and simple language journalism, he bridges the gap between complex world events and everyday understanding.
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