For the first time ever, an official document of the NDA government has referred to Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) as Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). The change is significant as it is in line with the Bharatiya Janata Party’s narrative on unified Kashmir, although it was thus far restricted to party pamphlets and manifestos.
The reference figures in the 2014-15 annual report of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), which was tabled in Parliament. Under the sub-head “Cross LoC Trade between J&K and PoJK,” the report says: Till 2015 December, 45,486 trucks have crossed over to PoJK and 28,891 trucks have crossed over to India’s side through these two routes — Srinagar-Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawalkote routes… Security clearance has been accorded for the visits of trade delegations from J&K to PoJK.”
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The report goes on to say, “the state of J&K has been affected by terrorist and secessionist violence, sponsored from across the border, for more than two decades. Since the advent of militancy in J&K (in 1990), 13,921 civilians and 4,961 security force personnel have lost their lives till 2015. During 2015, 108 terrorists were neutralized including senior Pakistani commanders of prominent militant groups.” It further says, “the ongoing militancy in J&K is intrinsically linked with infiltration of terrorists from across the border.”
53 terrorist financing accounts frozen:
Since 2009, on the basis of reliable inputs, the MHA has frozen a total number of 53 bank accounts suspected to be terrorist financing accounts, the report said. Under Section 51 A of the Unalwful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, the central government has powers to freeze, seize, or attach funds and other financial assets or economic resources held by, on behalf of or at the direction of any person engaged in terrorism.
Infiltration in J&K
Year | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 |
Total attempts | 247 | 264 | 277 | 222 | 121 |
Successful attempts | 52 | 121 | 97 | 65 | 33 |