Washington, February 6: The abrogation of Article 370 has opened up avenues for Development in Jammu and Kashmir, allowing India to establish world-class infrastructure and promote inclusive governance. In stark contrast, the areas of Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK) remain mired in inflation, oppression, and political stagnation.
A recent report highlights that the developmental landscape in Jammu and Kashmir serves as a robust rebuttal to decades of Pakistani propaganda. According to the Eurasia Review, the differences between the two sides of the Line of Control (LoC) are evident. While Jammu and Kashmir is hosting international events and integrating with the global economy, POJK has become a “political black hole,” where questioning forced annexation to Pakistan is considered a punishable offense.
The report states, “The year 2019 marked a decisive turning point in India’s history. The removal of Article 370 was not merely a legal change but a dismantling of the wall that had long isolated the people of Jammu and Kashmir from the pulse of Indian progress. Today, the bustling markets of Srinagar and the industrial hubs of Jammu reflect a story of renaissance. In contrast, conditions in POJK are characterized by exploitation, rising discontent, and a declining economy.”
The report also emphasizes that the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Elections in 2024, which saw a voter turnout of 63 percent, proved to be a crucial test. The public clearly chose “ballots over bullets.”
According to the report, “This was not just an election; it marked the public end of the Pakistan-sponsored narrative that claimed ‘Kashmiris reject Indian democracy.’ Marginalized communities, including women, youth, and West Pakistani refugees, who had been denied voting rights for 70 years under Article 370, were able to exercise their franchise as equal citizens for the first time.”
One of the significant achievements post the abrogation of Article 370, as per the report, is a sharp decline in local militancy. Various reports indicate that the trend of stone-pelting, which used to occur weekly, has now dropped to zero due to reduced cross-border funding.
The report notes, “Although Pakistan-sponsored ‘hybrid terrorists’ have made desperate attempts through tragic incidents like the one in Pahalgam in April 2025, the recruitment of local youth into terrorist organizations has reached historically low levels. Kashmiri youth are now picking up laptops instead of guns.”
According to the report, startup incubators in Srinagar and the industrial sector in Jammu are now the new battlegrounds for the future. Pakistan’s radical agenda has been so thoroughly rejected that even in remote villages, people are assisting security forces in identifying foreign infiltrators. This peace has led to a surge in tourism, with the number of visitors to Jammu and Kashmir exceeding 23 million in 2024.