Protesters want Pakistan Occupied Kashmir Reunification with J&K

Published On: May 14, 2024 - Recent protests in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) have sparked discussions about the potential outcomes for India and Pakistan. Social media is abuzz with images and videos depicting the violence, including the death of a policeman and injuries to around 100 individuals. The protests centred around demands for Azadi (freedom) and grievances over heavy taxation, high inflation, and power outages. The News9 Plus Show delves into the historical context of PoK, going back to the accession of Jammu and Kashmir to India in 1947 amid invasion by tribals supported by the Pakistan Army. Despite initial military successes for India, a ceasefire was declared in 1949, leaving Pakistan in control of approximately 72,000 square kilometres of Jammu and Kashmir, referred to as Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK). The discussion explores whether the current protests could lead to a transformative moment like the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, in which a people’s movement dismantled an authoritarian regime. Additionally, the discussion considers the potential costs and implications for India if PoK were to return to its control. Join Editor News9 Plus Sandeep Unnithan and colleague Aditya Raj Kaul as they engage in a conversation with prominent Brussels-based human rights activist Jamil Maqsood and Dr. Priyanka Singh from the MP IDSA, shedding light on the complexities and ramifications of the ongoing protests in POK. 'The first and foremost desire of the people of PoK is to re-integrate with the rest of Jammu & Kashmir under the administration of India,” says Maqsood.