Pakistan’s Hidden Costs: A Crackdown Exposes Islamabad’s True Intentions

The recent crackdown on protesters in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) by the Pakistani establishment has laid bare its treatment of civilians in the region. For years, India has accused Pakistan of supporting militant groups that have waged a low-intensity war on Indian soil.

Recent admissions by senior Pakistani officials suggest that Islamabad may have been playing with fire. Rana Sanaullah, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s Special Assistant on Political Affairs, has made a statement implying that Pakistan trained and armed militants who have turned against the state. This admission suggests that Islamabad’s policy of sponsoring cross-border terrorism has had a boomerang effect.

The 1979 Iranian revolution is a notable example of sponsors being outsmarted by their own protégés. Similarly, history is replete with instances where groups backed by foreign powers turned against them. In this case, Islamabad’s actions may have inadvertently revealed its hand. The recent election in PoJK, which India has termed a sham, stands as a testament to Pakistan’s disdain for civilian lives in the region.

Anti-government protests have erupted across PoJK over allegations of electoral rigging and suppression of democratic rights, underscoring the depth of discontent among the local population. India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has condemned Pakistan’s crackdown, calling it an “open admission of state-sponsored terrorism.” The MEA spokesperson also criticized the recent election in PoJK, labeling it a “humiliating rejection” of the Pakistani establishment.

The fate of civilians caught in the crossfire remains precarious. Widespread protests and reports of human rights abuses have emerged from PoJK, prompting international pressure on Islamabad to account for its actions. Local groups like the United Kashmir People’s National Party (UKPNP) have urged the UN, EU, and other global institutions to intervene.

India’s stance on this issue remains consistent with its long-standing position that Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India. New Delhi has repeatedly raised concerns over Islamabad’s support for cross-border terrorism and its treatment of civilians in the region. As international pressure mounts, it will be interesting to see how Pakistan responds.

Will Islamabad continue to deny its involvement in sponsoring cross-border terrorism, or will it take steps to address the grievances of its citizens? The world is watching, and history suggests that sponsors often get burned by their own creations.