ISLAMABAD: Kashmiri journalist Mukhtar Baba has said the violent unrest in Ladakh reflects the deep frustration of a generation that feels betrayed by unfulfilled promises from India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Speaking on Pakistan TV’s program Beyond the Border with host Omar Khalid Butt, Baba argued that the protests are not an isolated outburst but the culmination of years of dissatisfaction in both Leh and Kargil.
“It is important to understand what the BJP has promised to the people of Ladakh,” Baba said. “This is not the first time people are on the roads. For six years, we have seen people from Kargil and Ladakh protesting. But this is the bloodiest.”
Baba pointed out that despite repeated assurances, Ladakhis feel alienated. “They were promised shikai [constitutional safeguards], but they were betrayed. That is why the young generation, tired of empty promises, came on the streets, burned vehicles, and even attacked the BJP headquarters in Leh,” he added.
His comments came as Indian authorities imposed a curfew in Leh after at least four people were killed in clashes between protesters and police. Dozens more were injured, and a BJP office was set ablaze.
According to Al Jazeera, activists accused the government of ignoring hunger strikes and sit-ins by Ladakh’s Apex Body, a coalition of socio-religious and political groups.
Protest leader Sonam Wangchuk, who has long advocated statehood and special constitutional protections for Ladakh, denied government allegations that he incited the violence. He called the unrest an “outburst of youth” driven by years of neglect and joblessness.
The BBC reported that Ladakh’s Buddhist and Muslim communities, historically divided between demands for separation and integration, have united since 2019 in calling for the restoration of statehood and inclusion under India’s Sixth Schedule, which provides self-governing powers to tribal regions.
Authorities, however, insist that dialogue with local leaders has produced “phenomenal results.” In a statement, India’s home ministry said police opened fire “in self-defence” after protesters turned violent, injuring more than 30 security personnel.
But frustration remains widespread. “The young people feel they are getting nothing but promises,” Baba told Pakistan TV.
“Across Jammu and Kashmir, in Leh, in Kargil, there is disillusionment. This is the outcome of alienation.”
The unrest underscores the growing volatility of Ladakh, a strategically critical Himalayan region bordering both Pakistan and China. Analysts warn that New Delhi now faces not only external threats but also rising internal discontent.
