SRINAGAR: A gathering featuring senior leaders of terrorist organizations, including Talha Saifโbrother of UN-designated terrorist Masood AzharโJaish-e-Mohammed commanders Asghar Khan Kashmiri and Masood Ilyas, and senior Lashkar-e-Taiba figures, is set to take place in Rawalakot, Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK).
The Kashmir Solidarity and Al-Aqsa Flood Conference is scheduled for February 5 at Shaheed Sabir Stadium. PoJKโs Prime Minister and other officials are expected to attend. In a significant first, Hamas representativesโincluding Dr. Khaled Qaddoumi, the movementโs envoy in Tehranโwill participate alongside other Palestinian delegates.
Nawaz Sharif introduced the yearly observance on February 5, following a proposal from Jamaat-e-Islami leader Qazi Hussain. In the early 1990s, this initiative gained significant traction, as many believed that Kashmiris in India were facing persecution and repression by Indian authorities. Massive demonstrations erupted throughout Pakistan, with various political factions mobilizing their groups of demonstrators to secure favour with the military establishment.
After the 9/11 attacks, General Pervez Musharraf, under mounting international scrutiny, scaled back terrorist infiltration and dismantled several extremist training facilities.
Meanwhile, India began advancing as a nation, and with new leadership under PM Narendra Modi, the Balakot airstrikes marked a shift from a passive stance to an assertive approach, signaling clear consequences for terrorist activities.
Propaganda Video Released
Ahead of this gathering, an 8-minute video circulated on social media, allegedly released by the Pakistan Markazi Muslim League. The video pushes the narrative of โPak Ki Azadi, Kashmir Ki Azadiโ and glorifies secessionists like SAS Geelani, Yasin Malik, and Masrat Alam. It also eulogizes terrorists like Burhan Wani and Manan Wani, showing their funeral processions and urging Kashmiri youth to rise against the Indian state.
The video condemns the abrogation of Article 370, comparing Kashmir to Gaza and attempting to justify terrorist activities as resistance. It also highlights Pakistanโs continued diplomatic advocacy for Kashmir while avoiding mention of self-determination, instead promoting the regionโs integration into Pakistan.
Growing Tensions in PoJK
PoJK-based activist Haris Qadeer, a vocal critic of terrorist influence, has strongly opposed the February 5 event, accusing Pakistanโs military establishment of manipulating Kashmiri sentiments. In a social media post, he condemned Islamabadโs efforts to push jihadist narratives under the guise of solidarity, particularly in Rawalakot and Poonch, where civil movements demanding self-rule have gained momentum.
โThe same banned extremist groups that Pakistan once claimed to have dismantled under the National Action Plan are now at the forefront of this event,โ Qadeer wrote, highlighting how organizations outlawed for terrorism have rebranded themselves as Tehreek-e-Azadi Kashmir to operate freely.
Shift in Pakistanโs Strategy?
Despite past commitments to curbing terrorism, Pakistan appears to be reviving its jihadi networks, particularly in PoJK. Activists argue that after last yearโs widespread anti-government protests, Islamabad is using extremist elements to suppress calls for self-determination.
Political observers note that PoJK, especially Poonch, has been a stronghold of progressive resistance against both Pakistani state control and radical Islamist groups. Historically, Poonch played a leadership role in regional movements, making it a prime target for Islamabadโs countermeasures.
Reports suggest Pakistanโs security apparatus has been investing in social media campaigns, employing individuals at high salaries to push pro-Pakistan narratives while silencing local dissent. Additionally, religious militias are being mobilized, mirroring past strategies used to fuel unrest in Indiaโs Jammu and Kashmir.
The revocation of Article 370 effectively dismantled separatist narratives by eliminating the political space for secessionist ideologies. Indiaโs Jammu and Kashmir have surged far ahead of Pakistan-administered regions in terms of economic progress, educational development, and administrative efficiencyโan advancement well recognized by people across the border.
Consequently, in February last year, demonstrators in Gilgit-Baltistan outright refused to participate in โSupport Dayโ observances, instead demanding fundamental rights for themselves. Calls for autonomy are also growing louder, as Pakistan-occupied Kashmir struggles under severe economic distress.
Jihadi Culture Now Mainstream?
Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haqโs recent speech in Muzaffarabad, where he openly called for promoting โjihadi cultureโ, signals a departure from Pakistanโs previous stance. Analysts believe that while Pakistan once used proxy groups solely to target India, it is now directing these groups internally to control PoJKโs political landscape.
The February 5 conference is being seen as part of this shift, where terrorist leaders are expected to advocate not only for Kashmirโs โfreedomโ but also reinforce Pakistanโs dominance over PoJK. The inclusion of Hamas officials further complicates the situation, raising concerns over Pakistanโs increasing alignment with global jihadist networks.
While Pakistan publicly claims to combat terrorism, the ground reality in PoJK suggests otherwise. The region, long used as a launchpad for cross-border terrorism, is now witnessing a new phaseโwhere the Pakistani state, instead of disarming terrorist organisations and extremist groups, appears to be integrating them into its governance and propaganda machinery.
