MT Desk: The Pahalgam attack on April 22, 2025, marked the most defining moment of the year. The attack, which claimed 26 innocent lives, pushed India and Pakistan to the brink of full-fledged war. India, without providing even a shred of evidence, accused Pakistan and Kashmiri groups for orchestrating the attack and, in an atmosphere of heightened war hysteria, carried out missile strikes inside Pakistan in May 2025 under the so-called “Operation Sindoor”. In retaliation, Pakistan’s military response compelled India to seek an internationally mediated ceasefire. But what unfolded behind the scenes in Kashmir during this heightened escalation remained largely overshadowed by broader geopolitical calculations.
The incident was used by the Indian government as a pretext for intensified “counter-terror operations” in Kashmir, which critics argue led to disproportionate targeting of civilians under the cloak of national security.
New Delhi’s refusal to restore statehoodThe Modi government virtually ditched the Omar Abdullah administration thereby refusing to reinstate the statehood it had promised during the elections, which yielded no tangible gains on the ground except providing New Delhi with a democratic façade and a degree of symbolic normalcy, to ward off international pressure. Statusquoistic politics & NC’s inability to assert its position
Mainstream political parties have played a significant role in helping New Delhi to sustain the status quo by operating within institutional frameworks that strictly limit meaningful political change to take place in the region. Their prioritization of personal or party gains over real reforms has further entrenched central authority.
LG’s veto-like powers over key decisions
Under the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act of 2019, the powers of the state legislature have been drastically curtailed, rendering it effectively a toothless body. Under the new arrangement, all bills passed by the legislature require the Lieutenant Governor’s assent. The gradual erosion of local authority has resulted in a “hybrid” system, in which the elected Chief Minister has been reduced to a ceremonial figurehead, with limited administrative control.
Stigmatization of Kashmiri identityBeneath the façade of so-called democracy, the systematic stigmatization of Kashmiri identity continues unabated. Kashmiris are routinely portrayed as inherently rebellious, anti-national, and terrorists. This venomous narrative and negative framing have significantly contributed to the widespread othering and demonization of the Kashmiri people.
Systematic erosion of democratic rights The year 2025, saw a gradual erosion of Kashmiris’ political and democratic rights. The political developments touted by India as a return to normalcy since October 2024 have offered no relief to ordinary Kashmiris, who remain caught in a web of chaos and uncertainty triggered by every new incident in the region.