New Delhi, June 11 -- Pakistan's democratic credentials today stand severely eroded. The latest wave of violence in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) reflects not only a one-off crisis but a manifestation of a deeper political and economic malaise of the Pakistani state.
For years, PoJK has witnessed economic stagnation and worsening social indicators due to the apathy of decision-makers in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. The region has largely been treated as a political and diplomatic instrument while its people continue to struggle for basic necessities such as affordable food, electricity, roads, healthcare, and employment.
Pakistan's broader economic condition has only aggravated these grievances. Often described as an "IMF addict...