On August 5, 2019, India revoked Article 370 and 35A of its constitution—clauses that had guaranteed Jammu and Kashmir a special autonomous status since 1949. Framed by New Delhi as a “transformative milestone,” the abrogation was, for Kashmiris, a nightmare scenario. Seven years later, the promises of peace, prosperity, and integration ring hollow against the grim realities of militarization, economic collapse, and cultural erasure. The revocation was not merely a constitutional maneuver; it was a political earthquake that continues to shake the foundations of South Asia’s most volatile dispute.
Historical Context: An Unfinished Agenda
The Kashmir conflict has deep historical roots, originating from the partition of the subcontinent. The “instrument of accession” signed by Maharaja Hari Singh was contested from the outset. Even India’s own leaders, such as Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi, recognized the provisional nature of Kashmir’s accession and promised a plebiscite under the auspices of the United Nations. In April 1948, United Nations Security Council Resolution 47 specifically called for this plebiscite.
Over the decades, India has changed its narrative regarding Kashmir, declaring it an “integral part” of the Union. The abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A in 2019 marked the peak of this policy shift, carried out without the consent of the Kashmiri people or their elected government. As constitutional expert A.G. Noorani aptly stated, it was “an illegal decision, akin to committing fraud.”
The Political Calculus behind the Revocation
The decision to revoke Article 370 was driven more by political expediency than legal necessity. It was a central theme of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) electoral manifesto, intended to appease Hindu hardliners and project Prime Minister Narendra Modi as “tough on Kashmir and Pakistan.” By dissolving the elected government led by Mehbooba Mufti, imposing federal rule, and obtaining approval from a hand-picked governor, New Delhi paved the way for unilateral abrogation.
The objectives were clear: to install compliant political structures, pursue demographic changes driven by Hindutva ideology, and silence Kashmiri demands for self-determination. In doing so, India defied both international law and its own constitutional safeguards.
Economic Realities: Collapse behind the Façade
India’s official narrative emphasizes reduced terrorism, revitalized tourism, and economic growth. However, the reality on the ground presents a starkly different picture.
- Tourism: Once the backbone of Kashmir’s economy, tourism collapsed after 2019 due to lockdowns, communication blackouts, and security restrictions. The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce reported a loss of 144,500 jobs in the tourism and handicrafts sectors. Even a rebound in 2025 was hindered by violent incidents, highway closures, and restrictions on trekking routes.
- Agriculture: The apple industry, valued at over ₹8,000 crore and supporting 3.5 million people, suffered devastating losses—₹2,000 crore in 2025 alone—due to heavy rains, landslides, and highway blockades. In protest, farmers resorted to burning or dumping their produce.
- Employment: The unemployment rate ranges between 6.1% and 6.7%, nearly double the national average, disproportionately affecting youth and women. By late 2025, over 357,000 people were registered as unemployed, illustrating systemic distress.
- Industry: More than 2,300 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) shut down in five years, while promised central funds of ₹56,000 crore remain disputed.
Far from achieving prosperity, Kashmiris are facing economic strangulation, mounting debt, and significant disruptions in education.
Militarization and Human Rights Abuses
Today, Kashmir is one of the most militarized regions in the world, with estimates of 500,000 to 700,000 Indian troops deployed. Cordon-and-search operations (CASOs), mass arrests, and detentions under draconian laws like the Public Safety Act and Unlawful Activities Prevention Act have become routine.
Extrajudicial killings, custodial deaths, and disappearances haunt the families of the affected. The Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) offers near-total impunity, undermining accountability. Home demolitions, collective punishment, and restrictions on religious leaders further deepen resentment. The abrogation has not brought peace; instead, it has institutionalized repression.
Cultural and Demographic Engineering
Beyond economic issues and security concerns, the revocation has triggered fears of identity erasure. New domicile laws, property taxes, and voting rights for non-locals are perceived as attempts to alter Kashmir’s Muslim-majority demographic. Reports suggest that 2.5 million non-local voters could be added, representing a potential 30% increase.
Religious institutions have faced targeting, with Indian control over the Waqf Board and enforced cultural impositions in schools. Language, script, and curricula are being reshaped to dilute Kashmiri identity. For many, this resembles settler-colonial models in other contexts, raising alarms about demographic engineering.
A path to Peace
Seven years later, discontent has united Kashmir’s political spectrum. In July 2026, mainstream parties—including the National Conference (NC), the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and Hurriyat leaders—joined civil society in a collective assertion against the ongoing situation.
The Kashmir dispute remains an international question of self-determination, not an internal matter of India. Sustainable peace demands dialogue, restoration of rights, and adherence to UN resolutions—not propaganda or demographic manipulation. The abrogation of Article 370 was meant to close the chapter on Kashmir’s autonomy. Instead, it has reopened the wounds of betrayal, intensified resistance, and reaffirmed that the valley’s future cannot be dictated—it must be decided by its people.
