Women living in refugee camps in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) have courageously spoken out against the relentless brutality and exploitation inflicted by the Pakistan Army and local police forces. Their testimonies highlight a horrifying cycle of abuse, shattering the hopes of those who crossed the Line of Control (LoC) lured by Pakistan’s propaganda of freedom and dignity.
For decades, Pakistan has portrayed itself as a champion of Kashmiri aspirations, but the reality for refugees in PoJK tells a grim story. Women in the camps of Muzaffarabad recount tales of sexual exploitation, violence, and systemic oppression at the hands of the Pak military and PoJK police. Many of these women were among those misled by Pakistan’s promises of a better life, only to find themselves trapped in a nightmare.
Accounts of sexual violence by the PoJK police and Pakistan Army have become alarmingly common in these camps, exposing the deep-rooted hypocrisy of Pakistan’s claims to support Kashmiri freedom.
Women are particularly vulnerable, with reports of sexual assault and harassment by uniformed personnel. The so-called protectors of law and order in PoJK are accused of using their positions of power to prey on the helpless, revealing the utter disregard for human rights in the region.
The narratives of these women challenge the carefully curated propaganda that Pakistan uses to vilify India while glorifying its role in Kashmir. The voices emerging from PoJK expose the stark contrast between Islamabad’s lofty rhetoric and the grim realities faced by those who believed its promises.
