This paper examines Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) through a differentiated analytical lens, treating Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit–Baltistan (GB) as distinct political, demographic, and strategic spaces rather than a single entity. It analyses the historical legality of India’s claim, post-1947 administrative arrangements, and the long-term consequences of governance practices adopted by Pakistan. Particular attention is paid to demographic manipulation, political disenfranchisement, and radicalisation trends in AJK, in contrast to the strategic geography and externally imposed demographic changes in GB. Drawing on historical records, strategic geography, and contemporary security considerations, the paper argues that PoJK is central to India’s national security calculus, regional connectivity, and future geopolitical stability in the broader Himalayan and trans-Himalayan regions.
The Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS), New Delhi, India is an independent think tank on strategic studies and land warfare. The mandate of CLAWS covers national security issues, conventional military operations and sub-conventional warfare.