IIOJK’s Development Claims: Traders and Activists Expose India’s False Narrative

Is economic growth truly flourishing in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), or is it a smokescreen hiding the harsh reality? Traders, civil society activists, and political analysts weigh in.

India’s assertions of economic prosperity in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) have been dismissed by local traders, civil society activists, and political observers as baseless propaganda. According to them, these hollow claims serve only to deceive the international community and justify India’s unlawful occupation of the region.

Observers argue that India has been heavily relying on orchestrated media campaigns and carefully crafted reports to project an image of peace and development in the occupied territory. However, beneath these surface-level narratives, the situation tells a much different story—one of suppression and deprivation of basic rights.

Local traders in Srinagar, speaking anonymously due to security concerns, highlighted the dire state of the economy. “The reality on the ground is bleak. Shops are closing down, businesses are failing, and unemployment has hit alarming levels. There is no genuine progress—only increased repression,” said one trader.

Civil society activists echoed these concerns, accusing the Indian government of spreading misleading information to create a false impression of economic growth. One rights activist described India’s development narrative as a deceptive tactic aimed at legitimizing its occupation. “This so-called progress is a facade. The ground reality for Kashmiris is grim, marred by restrictions and a lack of basic freedoms,” the activist explained.

Adding to these grievances, activists and business owners voiced concerns about a strategic effort to reshape the region’s demographic makeup. By encouraging Indian investors to enter the territory while simultaneously suffocating local Kashmiri businesses through economic policies and restricted access to resources, India appears to be altering the social and economic landscape to its advantage.

Political analysts pointed to India’s controversial move on August 5, 2019, when Article 370 was revoked, stripping Jammu and Kashmir of its special status. They argue this decision has severely impacted every sector of life in IIOJK, exacerbating existing struggles and pushing the region further into turmoil.

Moreover, observers question how genuine peace or development can exist in what has become the world’s most militarized zone. With heavy military presence and ongoing human rights violations, the prospects for real progress seem increasingly dim.

The voices of local traders, civil society activists, and political observers make it clear: India’s glowing reports of economic growth in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) are far removed from reality. Instead of progress, the region continues to face economic hardship, political suppression, and demographic manipulation.