How Pakistan’s Terror Left Kashmir Behind the Rest of India

Kashmir stands apart—not just on the map, but in lived reality. While much of India has moved forward in education, infrastructure, and economic opportunity, Kashmir remains caught in a time loop of curfews, conflict, and lost potential.

This is not accidental. For decades, Pakistan has used terrorism as a calculated tool to destabilize the region, backed by its military and intelligence services. The goal isn’t just territorial—it’s psychological: to isolate Kashmir from India, to stall democratic progress, and to keep fear alive in everyday life.

The result is visible in every corner of the Valley: shuttered schools, vanishing jobs, mistrust between neighbors, and a youth unsure whether to dream or survive. Kashmir hasn’t failed to develop because it lacks talent or resources—it’s been made to fail, over and over, by forces that profit from its unrest.

This article explores how that strategy has worked—and what it has cost.
Since 1947, Pakistan has maintained that Kashmir belongs to it—a stance formalized through wars in 1947, 1965, and 1999 (Kargil).
Even After three wars failed to bring Kashmir under its control, Pakistan shifted to a proxy war model in the late 1980s. It began actively arming, training, and financing terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), and Hizbul Mujahideen, which then infiltrated Kashmir to incite insurgency and create civil unrest.

A major human tragedy born of this approach was the 1990s exodus of Kashmiri Pandits, when around 100,000–150,000 Hindu families were forced to flee the Valley due to targeted killings, threats, and intimidation. Killings of prominent figures like Tika Lal Taploo and Sarwanand Koul sent a chilling message that non-Muslims were not safe. To this day, most displaced Pandits remain in exile.
The security fallout of this strategy has been severe. According to government data, over 14,000 civilians have died in terror-related violence in Jammu and Kashmir since 1990, along with more than 5,000 security personnel. Terrorist attacks continue to target civilians, tourists, and pilgrims—like the recent Pahalgam terror attack—aimed at halting tourism and undermining public morale.

India has responded with a robust counter-terror strategy, including surgical strikes in 2016 and the Balakot airstrikes in 2019 following the Pulwama suicide bombing. These strikes targeted terror launchpads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and deep within Pakistani territory. Yet, for every strike, Pakistan has used new proxies or adopted asymmetric tactics, continuing the cycle of instability.

While India’s GDP has grown steadily and urban centers like Bengaluru, Pune, and Hyderabad emerged as tech hubs, Kashmir’s economy has been paralyzed. The region has:

Despite India’s significant investment in roads, rail, and power infrastructure, Pakistan’s continued export of terror has kept the region in a reactive state, stalling meaningful private investment. Kashmir’s prolonged conflict has fractured not just its economy and infrastructure—but its very social fabric. Generations have grown up amid military checkpoints, internet shutdowns, and psychological trauma. But one of the most damaging outcomes has been the identity crisis faced by both Kashmiri Muslims and Hindus, each burdened by suspicion and stereotypes.

For Kashmiri Pandits, the 1990s exodus remains an open wound. Thousands of families were forced to flee after targeted killings by Islamist militants. For Kashmiri Muslims, the backlash has been widespread stereotyping—often portrayed as disloyal, radicalized, or anti-national, especially after high-profile incidents like the 2016 Burhan Wani protests or Pulwama attack. This has led to social alienation in mainland India, affecting students, professionals, and even tourists.

Kashmiri Muslims are often viewed with suspicion across India, especially in sensitive zones like airports or job applications. On the flip side, Pandits who return to the Valley often feel like outsiders in their own homeland—viewed as symbols of the Indian state or blamed for past grievances. This mutual mistrust keeps reconciliation at bay.
For Pakistan, Kashmir is not just a territorial claim—it’s a political shield. The Pakistani military-industrial complex thrives on the Kashmir conflict, using it to justify high defense budgets and its grip over civilian governance.

This manipulation includes:
Pakistan’s strategy has backfired internationally. It was placed on the FATF grey list for terror financing and remains diplomatically isolated on Kashmir. Even traditional allies like Saudi Arabia and the UAE have increased investment ties with India, ignoring Pakistan’s Kashmir rhetoric.

The abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019 removed the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, placing it under the same constitutional framework as the rest of India. Key developments post-370 include:

Despite these efforts, Pakistan-backed terror incidents have continued, trying to derail any narrative of progress and peace.

There is a clear mood shift on the ground. High voter turnouts in DDC elections, increasing participation in startups, and local calls for peace signal that Kashmiris want to move forward. Youths are joining civil services, launching businesses, and participating in Indian sports and cultural events.

However, until Pakistan’s strategic reliance on terrorism is dismantled, Kashmir remains vulnerable. The Indian government’s focus on security, infrastructure, and grassroots governance must be matched by counter-radicalization, justice for displaced communities, and mainstream acceptance of Kashmiris across India. Kashmir’s underdevelopment isn’t accidental—it’s the direct result of a sustained strategy by Pakistan to destabilize a region for geopolitical leverage. The result has been decades of lost growth, trauma, and division.

Yet there is hope. The people of Kashmir—regardless of religion—are showing signs of resilience, participation, and a desire for normalcy. But they must no longer be reduced to symbols of conflict. They are Indian citizens, and they deserve the same opportunities for peace and prosperity as the rest of the country.

As long as Pakistan continues to back terror, Kashmir’s path to recovery will remain uphill. Breaking this cycle will require firm action, honest engagement, and above all, recognizing that Kashmir’s future lies not in conflict, but in connection.

Kashmir doesn’t need sympathy or suspicion. It needs what the rest of India takes for granted—normalcy, dignity, and trust. Until we see Kashmir beyond headlines and history, development will always be delayed—not by borders, but by bias.