The Illusion of “Azad Kashmir Army” and the Need for True Autonomy

By Sameena Raja – Jammu and Kashmir

For decades, certain misguided elements have been advocating for the revival of the so-called “Azad Kashmir Army.” But one must ask—what exactly was this army? The United Nations has never recognized such an entity, nor has history recorded an independent military force operating outside Pakistan’s control.

The Myth of the “Azad Kashmir Army”

The truth is, there was never an independent Azad Kashmir Army. What existed was a regiment under Pakistan’s military command, established not to liberate Kashmiris but to reinforce Pakistan’s narrative of “liberation” through religious rhetoric. For 77 years, this so-called force has done nothing to secure the rights or freedom of the people in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Instead, it has served as a tool to cultivate loyalty toward Pakistan’s military establishment.

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1947: The Betrayal That Divided Kashmir

Who was truly responsible for the violence and division in 1947? It was the Pakistani military that invaded Jammu and Kashmir under the guise of “religious solidarity,” leading to the forced division of a once-unified princely state. The aggression of 1947 did not bring freedom—it brought destruction, displacement, and decades of suffering.

Today, those demanding the return of the Azad Kashmir Army are either deluded or complicit in perpetuating Pakistan’s propaganda. They continue selling the false hope that Pakistan will one day “liberate” Kashmir from India. But let’s be clear:

1. Pakistan lacks the military and economic strength to challenge India in a conventional war.
2. Even if, hypothetically, Pakistan were to “free” Kashmir from India, it would only seek to annex the territory—not grant Kashmiris true independence.

The False Choice: Pakistan or India?

For 77 years, Kashmiris have been trapped in a geopolitical tug-of-war between two nuclear-armed states. Both Pakistan and India have exploited Kashmir for their own strategic interests, while Kashmiris remain deprived of basic rights, autonomy, and dignity.

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The real question is: Why must Kashmiris choose between Pakistan and India? Why should they abandon their centuries-old identity, culture, and right to self-determination for the sake of religious or nationalist agendas imposed by outsiders?

A Call for True Independence

This is the 21st century—an era of information and awareness. Kashmiris are no longer naive. They recognize the manipulations of both Pakistan and India. The only path forward is:

• Rejecting the Pakistan-India binary and focusing on Kashmiri unity.
• Demanding complete autonomy—free from both Pakistani and Indian control.
• Securing the rights of future generations by preserving Kashmiri identity and sovereignty.

Religion has been used as a tool to divide and control Kashmiris for too long. It’s time to think beyond Pakistan and India, beyond artificial borders, and beyond hollow slogans of “liberation” that only serve external powers.

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The Future Lies in Self-Determination

Kashmiris must unite for their own survival. The struggle should not be about merging with Pakistan or remaining under India—it should be about reclaiming Kashmiri sovereignty.

The world must recognize that Kashmir is not a territorial dispute between two nations—it is about the fundamental rights of a people who have been denied justice for seven decades.

The choice is clear: Either Kashmiris continue being pawns in someone else’s war, or they rise as the architects of their own destiny.

(Sameena Raja is a political commentator and rights activist from Jammu and Kashmir.)