Washington, February 6: The revocation of Article 370 has paved the way for development in Jammu and Kashmir, enabling India to establish world-class infrastructure and promote inclusive governance. In stark contrast, the regions across the Line of Control (LoC) in Pakistan-occupied areas are mired in inflation, oppression, and political stagnation.
A report released on Friday highlights that the development landscape in Jammu and Kashmir serves as a powerful rebuttal to decades of Pakistani propaganda.
According to the Eurasia Review report, the differences between the two sides of the LoC are evident. Jammu and Kashmir is now hosting international events and integrating into the global economy while building a world-class healthcare system. Conversely, Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK) remains a “political black hole,” where questioning forced annexation is considered a punishable offense.
The report states, “The year 2019 marked a turning point in India’s history. The abrogation of Article 370 was not merely a legal change; it dismantled 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 showcase a story of renaissance. In contrast, conditions in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir are characterized by exploitation, rising discontent, and a declining economy.”
The report also emphasizes that the 2024 Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, which saw a voter turnout of 63%, proved to be a decisive 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 Western 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 following the abrogation of Article 370 is a sharp decline in local militancy. Various reports indicate that the once weekly stone-pelting incidents fueled by cross-border funding have now dropped to zero.
The report notes, “While Pakistan-supported ‘hybrid terrorists’ continue to make desperate attempts through tragic incidents like the April 2025 Pahalgam event, recruitment of local youth into terrorist organizations has reached historically low levels. Kashmiri youth are now picking up laptops instead of guns.”
The report further states that 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 people in remote villages are assisting security forces in identifying foreign infiltrators. This peace has resulted in over 23 million tourists visiting Jammu and Kashmir in 2024.