Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday acknowledged China’s role in the development of border areas in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), sparking a heated exchange of words in the Assembly over which side of Kashmir was more developed.
During the discussion, Omar appeared to concede that certain areas along the border in PoK had witnessed more development compared to their counterparts in Jammu and Kashmir. However, he emphasized that this progress was superficial and mainly concentrated in border regions, while the reality beyond these areas painted a different picture. He asserted that deeper into PoK, the situation was starkly different, with a lack of real infrastructural growth.
The controversy unfolded after Saifullah Mir, a National Conference Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) representing the Trehgam constituency in Kupwara—a district that shares a border with PoK—claimed that Kashmir was more developed than other parts of his constituency. His statement drew strong reactions from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators, who urged the Speaker to remove his comments from the records, arguing that such a comparison was unnecessary and misleading.
It is a widely held perception in the border areas of Jammu and Kashmir that PoK enjoys better development. Supporting Mir’s observations, Gurez MLA Nazir Gurezi added that people on the other side of the border appeared to wear expensive clothing, reinforcing the belief that they were better off. His remarks prompted further debate in the Assembly.
In response to these arguments, Omar Abdullah acknowledged that there had indeed been visible development in PoK’s border areas, but he insisted that it was not organic. He stated that the infrastructural progress there had been facilitated by external assistance, particularly from China. According to him, while PoK had benefitted from China’s involvement, the rest of the region had not seen much improvement.
“If you accept the truth, then what Nazir Gurezi said is not entirely wrong. However, he did not complete his statement. Yes, there has been significant development on the other side of the border, but it is not widespread. It has been done for show, concentrated only in border areas. Beyond those regions, there is nothing,” Omar remarked.
The Chief Minister reiterated that the government of Jammu and Kashmir had never sought assistance from any foreign country to develop its regions. Unlike PoK, where China had stepped in to build infrastructure, Jammu and Kashmir had relied solely on its own resources and efforts.
“It is not their own work. Whatever development has taken place in PoK is due to China’s generosity. But whatever we have accomplished, whether little or much, has been through our own means and efforts,” he stated.
Omar further justified the concerns raised by the border MLAs, including Mir and Gurezi, asserting that they were not wrong in pointing out the disparities in development. He acknowledged the hardships faced by residents in these areas, particularly in the sectors of Keran and Gurez, both of which are situated along the Line of Control (LoC) and remain isolated for months during winter due to heavy snowfall.
“The situation in these areas is indeed difficult. However, we did not seek external help from China, Britain, America, or France to build our roads. The roads they have in PoK exist because of China’s assistance,” he reiterated.
Highlighting the economic struggles in PoK, Omar further remarked, “Yes, they may wear expensive coats, but there is no real wealth behind it.”
Mir and Gurezi, representing constituencies that include border areas, have long been vocal about the need for better connectivity to improve the living conditions of their people. They renewed their longstanding demand for the construction of tunnels that would provide all-weather access to their remote constituencies, ensuring that residents do not remain cut off during harsh winters.
The discussion in the Assembly once again underscored the persistent development challenges in the border regions of Jammu and Kashmir and the need for enhanced infrastructure and government intervention to address the concerns of those living in these difficult terrains.
