Saleem Yas

Saleem Yas

President

Kamran Baig

Kamran Baig

General Secretary

Mushtaq Mughal

Mushtaq Mughal

Organizer

Zohaib Hasrat

Zohaib Hasrat

Senior Vice President

Sardar Zia Ahmad

Sardar Zia Ahmad

Vice President

Altaf Ghalarvi

Altaf Ghalarvi

Vice President

Muhammad Anzar

Muhammad Anzar

Vice President

Raja Naseef

Raja Naseef

Vice President

Khawaja Khurram Aziz

Khawaja Khurram Aziz

Deputy General Secretary

Rizwan Barlas

Rizwan Barlas

Finance Secretary

Nasir Sohail

Nasir Sohail

Deputy Finance Secretary

Toseef Niaz

Toseef Niaz

Chairman Publicity Board

Maqsood Khan

Maqsood Khan

Secretary Information & Publicity

Asif Mughal

Asif Mughal

Deputy Secretary Information

Inaam Khan

Inaam Khan

Deputy Organizer

Introduction

The Jammu and Kashmir issue remains one of the longest-standing and unresolved conflicts in the modern world. Often presented as a “dispute” between India and Pakistan, this framing obscures the reality that Jammu and Kashmir was an independent, sovereign state in 1947. Its subsequent partition and occupation were imposed by both India and Pakistan without the consent of its people. A shift in narrative, from “dispute” to “occupation,” is essential to accurately reflect the circumstances and lay the groundwork for meaningful progress. Recognizing Jammu and Kashmir as an occupied land rather than a territorial dispute reorients international focus toward the rights and aspirations of the people who reside there.

The Benefits of a Secular and Independent
Jammu Kashmir

Establishing an independent, secular Jammu Kashmir could yield numerous benefits for the region, reducing tensions, promoting economic growth, and ultimately fostering peace and stability.

1. Economic Impact
The conflict over Jammu and Kashmir compels both India and Pakistan to allocate substantial portions of their national budgets to defense. For instance, in 2023, India allocated nearly $73 billion to its defense budget, while Pakistan spent over $11 billion. These allocations not only drain national resources but also detract from pressing domestic priorities such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure .
An independent Jammu and Kashmir would diminish this defense spending imperative, allowing both nations to redirect funds to enhance living standards, promote economic growth, and improve social services. In a 2021 study by Chatham House, it was found that reducing defense expenditures by even a small percentage could lead to substantial improvements in health and educational services across South Asia, indicating the significant economic benefits of peace in the region.
2. Promoting Peace and Reducing Extremism

The conflict over Jammu and Kashmir compels both India and Pakistan to allocate substantial portions of their national budgets to defense. For instance, in 2023, India allocated nearly $73 billion to its defense budget, while Pakistan spent over $11 billion. These allocations not only drain national resources but also detract from pressing domestic priorities such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure .

Furthermore, with both India and Pakistan being nuclear-armed powers, the ongoing conflict holds the potential to escalate into a nuclear catastrophe. In the case of heightened tensions, the risk of a nuclear standoff remains a tangible threat. An independent Jammu and Kashmir would act as a buffer state, diffusing these tensions and minimizing the potential for such a disaster.
3.Human Rights and Stability for Kashmiris
For over 75 years, the people of Jammu and Kashmir have endured extensive human rights abuses, widespread violence, and severe instability. According to the Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society, over 100,000 lives have been lost, with millions displaced. Reports from Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch document numerous incidents of torture, unlawful detentions and killings, rapes and severe limitations on civil freedoms.
Establishing a secular and independent Jammu and Kashmir would offer a path toward justice, ending decades of violence and creating a foundation for social healing. Such a shift would enable the rebuilding of communities, economic growth, and the protection of individual rights that have been suppressed for generations.

Popular Will for Independence

The desire for an independent Jammu and Kashmir is not only justified but also widely supported among Kashmiris. Various surveys and reports highlight that the majority of Kashmiris desire independence or autonomy. For example:
Chatham House conducted surveys showing a significant majority of Kashmiris in both the Indian- and Pakistani-occupied regions support an independent state .
Reports from Geo News indicate similar trends, with a majority in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan favoring independence rather than alignment with either India or Pakistan.
Outlook Magazine (India) has also documented sentiments across the region favoring a third option for Jammu and Kashmir, separate from both India and Pakistan.
These findings underscore that a secular and independent Jammu and Kashmir aligns not only with the principles of justice and self-determination but also with the genuine aspirations of its people.

Conclusion: Jammu Kashmir, A Bridge of Peace, Not a Bone of Contention

An independent, secular Jammu and Kashmir has the potential to transform the region from a perpetual battleground into a bridge for peace across South Asia. It is a moral imperative for the international community to put aside geopolitical interests and support the right of the Kashmiri people to live freely, safely, and with dignity. Only by addressing Jammu and Kashmir as an occupied territory and supporting its sovereignty can meaningful steps toward stability, security, and prosperity be taken in South Asia.

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