The human rights violations in Indian-held Jammu and Kashmir and the Kashmiris’ unprecedented struggle have been the subject of, literally, hundreds of books and thousands of articles; abundant information is available on every aspect. Surprisingly, however, the migration that began from the State in the 1990s and the difficulties faced by the refugees who arrived in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) h
ave rarely been a topic of discussion. When the reasons for this are explored, it becomes apparent that the majority of refugees hail from a very backward segment of the Jammu and Kashmir population, most of them living below the poverty line. As a result, even after their arrival in Azad Kashmir, they were unable to emerge as a collective voice. The local leadership was also unable to pay due attention to their problems. During the last 15 years (1990–2005), there has been migration from more or less all points along the 750-kilometer Line of Control (LoC). Although the extent of migration varies from area to area, the presence of refugee camps in most districts of Azad Kashmir bears testimony to the fact that suppression on the other side of the LoC has grown consistently. Although the Government of Pakistan/AJK provides regular assistance to refugee families to meet their day-to-day needs, it is considerably insufficient for the dispossessed families. A few non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are also actively supporting the refugees but their roles are limited and their resources even more so. International institutions, particularly the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), have provided considerable support for the rehabilitation of displaced families and individuals the world over; Kashmiri refugees have, however, remained deprived of their help. While the indifference of the international agencies is also an issue, lack of the Government interest in involving these agencies is equally regrettable. No efforts have been made to seek assistance from foreign governments and NGOs either. Meanwhile, refugees continue to arrive and settle at camps, indicating that decisions need to be made to pave the way for long-term and concrete planning for their rehabilitation and proper settlement. The objective of this paper is to study the current situation and the problems facing the refugees in order to facilitate an understanding of the issue in its proper perspective, and to suggest practical steps for the refugees’ relief and rehabilitation, keeping in view their cultural, religious and political background and aspirations.
