Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir — Pakistan’s recent “peace deal” with protesters in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK) is viewed as a strategic but hollow initiative aimed at distracting the global community from decades of oppression in the region, reports 24brussels.

Human rights activist Tasleema Akhter highlighted that residents of POJK and Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan (PoGB) have long suffered under Pakistan’s illegal occupation, facing political marginalization, economic deprivation, and the denial of fundamental human rights. The Pakistan Army has reportedly subjected civilians to violence and intimidation, using harassment, torture, and excessive force against peaceful protesters. Akhter criticized this conduct as a glaring example of Pakistan’s hypocrisy regarding democratic principles and humanitarian values.

Despite Islamabad’s assertions of fostering peace and development, the situation on the ground suggests otherwise. Pakistan faces accusations of exploiting the region’s vast natural resources while leaving the population in dire poverty. According to Akhter, the so-called “peace agreements” serve merely as political instruments to maintain Islamabad’s control over the territories, offering only false assurances that ignore the legitimate grievances of the local populace.

The discontent among residents of POJK and PoGB, Akhter argues, originates not from foreign influence but from Pakistan’s own systemic corruption, injustices, and oppressive governance. Individuals in these regions express frustration over years of exploitation and suppression under military rule. Both territories are regarded as integral parts of India, seized by Pakistan through military aggression and ongoing violations, she asserted.

Calls have intensified for the United Nations, global human rights organizations, and the international community to hold Pakistan accountable for its actions against civilians and its unlawful governance over these areas. The residents of POJK and PoGB demand genuine justice, freedom, and dignity, rejecting superficial peace accords. As the world’s focus shifts back to the region, one reality remains undeniable — Pakistan’s constructed narratives cannot mask the escalating demand for liberation from its oppressive regime.