The Jammu Kashmir National Students Federation (JKNSF) has announced a long march towards the Chakothi Line of Control on October 22, driven by mounting frustrations over Punjabi Pak military dominance and its repressive policies in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). The announcement, made at Kotli Chowk by prominent leader Israr Yusuf, highlighted a series of grievances that have pushed the community to take the action.
The primary reasons for the march are the enforced disappearances of Kashmiris, the region’s persistent underdevelopment, the suppression of the PoJK community, and the skyrocketing prices of wheat and electricity, which have crippled everyday life. Most concerning to the marchers is the recent abduction of over 20 Kashmiris in 2024, including key figures like Raja Mudassir, reportedly taken by the Pak Army. Mudassir was abducted by security forces during Ramadan, and his whereabouts have remained unknown, adding to a growing list of enforced disappearances in the region.
The Pak Army is treating the people of PoJK as second-class citizens, with no regard for their rights or welfare. The region remains economically stagnant, with no meaningful development in key sectors like industry or tourism, both of which are tightly controlled by the military. These frustrations have festered for years, but the recent wave of abductions, along with the worsening economic conditions, has brought the community to a breaking point.