Pakistan officially refers to the territory it controls west of the Line of Control as "Azad Jammu and Kashmir" (AJK), while India regards it as part of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir that is under Pakistani occupation. The article argues that despite the term "Azad" (meaning free), political, administrative and demographic developments in the region have largely been shaped by institutions based in Islamabad and Rawalpindi rather than by locally elected representatives.
The debate around what some activists and analysts call "Punjabisation" extends beyond language. It refers to the perception that political authority, bureaucracy, security structures and major policy decisions affecting Pakistan-administered Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan are dominated by Pakistan's federal establishment, whose power centres are located in Punjab province. Critics argue that local institutions exercise limited autonomy and that important decisions are often taken outside the region.
Demographically, the situation is complex. Not all areas of Pakistan-administered Kashmir have historically been ethnically or linguistically Kashmiri. Regions such as Mirpur, Bhimber and Kotli have long spoken Pahari-Pothwari and Punjabi-related dialects, while Gilgit-Baltistan contains a diverse mix of communities speaking Shina, Balti, Burushaski, Wakhi and other local languages. Therefore, discussions about identity in these regions involve multiple ethnic and linguistic groups rather than a single Kashmiri identity.
One major point of contention concerns constitutional and political arrangements established after the 1949 Karachi Agreement, which transferred key powers such as defence, foreign affairs and matters related to Kashmir to Pakistan's federal authorities. Critics argue that this framework reduced the influence of local institutions and strengthened Islamabad's control over the region.
Demographic concerns have also been raised by local activists and nationalist groups. They argue that changes in land ownership policies and migration patterns have altered the social composition of parts of the region over time. In Gilgit-Baltistan, concerns have additionally focused on sectarian tensions between Shia and Sunni communities, with some researchers linking demographic changes and migration trends to shifts in the area's religious balance.
Groups such as the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) have recently organised protests demanding greater autonomy, economic reforms and changes to electoral arrangements. Protesters have argued that people living outside the territory continue to exert disproportionate influence over local politics and governance. These demonstrations have highlighted long-standing grievances regarding representation, resource distribution and political control.
Another issue frequently raised by critics is the dominance of federal officials and security institutions in local administration. While elected governments exist in Muzaffarabad, many activists contend that the most important levers of power remain under the authority of Pakistan's central government and military establishment.
Supporters of the "Punjabisation" argument maintain that the process has affected language, demographics, governance and cultural identity. Others argue that the term oversimplifies a much more complicated historical reality involving multiple ethnic groups, languages and political developments. However, even among differing interpretations, there is broad acknowledgement that Pakistan-administered Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan have historically operated under significant federal oversight.
The broader debate ultimately centres on self-governance, representation and identity. Critics argue that local populations have limited influence over major decisions affecting their future, while supporters of the existing system contend that current arrangements are necessary because of the unresolved status of the Kashmir dispute. The question of how much political authority should rest with local institutions versus Pakistan's federal government remains one of the region's most contested issues.
