Rawalakot, Muzaffarabad and Mirpur. These towns in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK) have been rocked by unrest, detentions and killings that have challenged Islamabad’s authority in the region. Just a hundred kilometres to the east, across the Line of Control (LoC), the mood is one of progress. Not protests.
Engineers in Baltal, Sonamarg and Minamarg on Tuesday met deep beneath the Himalayas to celebrate the breakthrough of the strategically vital Zojila Tunnel in Jammu and Kashmir. The engineering marvel is expected to result in Asia’s longest bidirectional tunnel upon completion. The all-weather Zojila Tunnel will connect J&K to Ladakh.
The two developments, unfolding almost simultaneously on opposite sides of the LoC, show the divergent paths of the two parts of Kashmir, territories that Pakistan’s misadventures in 1947 split into two different realities. While the entire Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh, Gilgit-Baltistan and the Shaksgam Valley are integral parts of India and are central to its territorial sovereignty, Pakistan has continued to occupyparts of the region since 1947.
On one side, POK is witnessing unrest over governance, inflation, political representation and allegations of state repression. On the other, India marked a major infrastructure milestone with the breakthrough of the 13.15-km Zojila Tunnel. The project follows a decade of infrastructure expansion and public investment in Jammu and Kashmir.
Once operational, the tunnel would end the annual winter isolation of vast areas beyond the Zojila Pass in Ladakh.Most importantly, the contrast goes beyond just the Zojila Tunnel or a single agitation.
Over the last decade, Jammu and Kashmir has seen sustained investments in highways, tunnels, railways, power projects and tourism infrastructure. The Z-Morh Tunnel, Chenab Rail Bridge, Jammu-Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Linkand Zojila Tunnel are part of India’s broader push to improve connectivity and integrate remote areas with the rest of the country.
Meanwhile, POK has witnessed recurring protests over electricity tariffs, wheat prices, governance and political representation. A growing public anger against Islamabad’s handling of the region has often been highlighted in these protests in POK.
ONE REGION ON EDGE, ANOTHER BREAKS THROUGH
Tuesday, June 9, was a day of two headlines.
In POK, authorities moved to block a planned long march by the banned Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), days after deadly clashes in Rawalakot killed dozens. Official reports put the death toll at 11, though some activists and reports claimed a significantly higher number of casualties.
Internet services have been suspended, hundreds have been detained, and security forces remain deployed across the region amid fears of further unrest.In India, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari attended the final breakthrough of the Zojila Tunnel in Jammu and Kashmir, where workers excavating from the Kashmir and Ladakh sides finally met underground.The 13.15-km tunnel, located at an altitude of around 11,500 feet, will become one of the world’s longest single-tube bi-directional road tunnels and provide year-round connectivity between Kashmir and Ladakh.
The tunnel will reduce travel time across the snowbound Zojila Pass and ensure that Ladakh remains connected even during winters, when heavy snowfall shuts the highway for months. The Zojila Tunnel is expected to be operational by 2028.
HOW SAME GRIEVANCES, EVERY YEAR, KEEP FUELLING PROTESTS IN POK
However, the story of the two sides of Kashmir did not begin this week.
For years, people of POK have protested over high electricity bills, inflation, prices of basic food items and the Pakistani establishment’s dominance in governance and representation. The JAAC, which is at the fore of the current agitation, itself emerged as a movement against economic distress in POK.
The protests then broadened as the Pakistan Punjab-led administration reserved 12 seats for non-residents and more autonomy. The protests have now spread across POK’s towns and cities, like, Rawalakot, Muzaffarabad, Mirpur. Protests have also been reported in the adjoining Federally-administered unit of Gilgit-Baltistan.
Before the recent protests, the JAAC in 2025 led a region-wide shutter-down and wheel-jam strike across the region demanding subsidised flour, electricity, political reforms, and an end to official privileges. The protests led to violent clashes. At least 12 people were killed by the Pakistani forces. India described the unrest as a natural consequence of Pakistan’s oppressive policies and plundering of resources in POK.In 2024, protests erupted in POK against rising prices of flour, electricity, and inflation. The protests turned violent. Tear gas and bullets were fired and hundreds of arrests were made. At least four Kashmiris lost their lives. In these protests, some protesters raised slogans for “azadi“ or freedom from Pakistan.
On the other hand, the last decade has seen major investments in connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir.
A DECADE OF INFRA UPGRADE, DEVELOPMENT IN JAMMU AND KASHMIR
Since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, Jammu and Kashmir has seen a rise in investment and infrastructure spending. Annual investments, which were below Rs 450 crore before 2021, touched a record Rs 5,824 crore in 2025-26. Investment proposals worth over Rs 1.6 lakh crore have been received by the Jammu and Kashmir administration.
The transformation of Jammu and Kashmir has also extended to entrepreneurship. The UT had just 69 registered startups in 2020. By 2025-26, that number had crossed 1,300, aided by dedicated startup policies, incubators and seed-funding support, with the government now targeting 2,000 startups by 2027.
