Political Subjugation in J&K

February 21, 2026

The Line of Control (LoC) that separates Jammu and Kashmir from Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) is no longer a military frontier but has evolved into a developmental fault line. While Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh have seen structural transformations and economic revitalisation, PoJK and Pakistan-occupied Gilgit Baltistan (PoGB) remain caught in political subjugation and infrastructural decay.

For years, the narrative regarding this region was dominated by conflict. However, a closer analysis of the ‘Age of Development’ showcases a different reality, according to a report in India Narrative. Two contrasting trajectories of governance started after the partition of 1947, one under India’s democratic framework, which has prioritised inclusion and last mile delivery while other remains under Pakistan’s occupation, defined by extraction and stagnation.

Since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, India has projected the reorganisation of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir as a step to have better governance. District Development Council elections in 2020 and legislative polls in 2024 were critical steps towards restoring representative governance in the region and welfare schemes like Ayushman Bharat and PM Kisan have been implemented in every district of the region. In sharp contrast, PoJK continues to function under the Interim Constitution of 1974, which provides only limited self-governance while Pakistan fully controls key areas like defence and foreign affairs. The situation is even more precarious in PoGB as the region, despite the 2009 Empowerment and Self Governance Order, has not yet received the constitutional status in Pakistan