The Other Kashmiris: Forgotten Voices of Kotli, Rajouri & Beyond. (Part-2)

The Invisible Soldiers: Paharis and the Kashmir Jihad.

By AbuBakar Irfan.

The Kashmir conflict is often painted with a narrow brush, one that almost exclusively highlights the Valley and its struggle. Terms like "Kashmiri resistance" or "freedom fighters" usually conjure up images of Srinagar youth with stones in hand or insurgents operating in the dense forests of Kupwara. But this portrayal omits a crucial, often ignored truth: that Pahari-origin Kashmiris, particularly from Kotli, Mirpur, Poonch, Rajouri, and Bagh have made immense sacrifices in the Kashmir Jihad.

Since the onset of the insurgency in 1989, the Kashmir Jihad has drawn thousands of volunteers, supporters, and sympathizers from both sides of the Line of Control (LoC). Among them, a significant number belonged not to the Valley, but to the mountainous and linguistically distinct regions of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). These Pahari-speaking populations, often mocked or marginalized as "not real Kashmiris," have consistently formed the backbone of physical and logistical support for the cause, especially within Pakistan’s Mujahid Force and other Kashmir-centric paramilitary units.

Who Are the Paharis?

The term "Pahari" in this context refers to people who inhabit the hilly areas of western J&K including Kotli, Bhimber, Mirpur, Bagh, and Poonch in AJK and Rajouri, Poonch, and parts of Uri and Baramulla in Indian-administered J&K. They are mostly speakers of Pahari–Potohari dialects and are culturally distinct from the Kashmiri-speaking population of the Valley.

Yet, despite their distinct identity, many Paharis, driven by a sense of solidarity with fellow Muslims in the Valley or a desire for the complete liberation of J&K have willingly enlisted in the armed resistance.

Their Role in the Jihad

While Valley youth became the visible face of street protests and militancy, Paharis became the invisible force behind the line patrolling, supplying, guiding, and in many cases, dying. Their integration into the Mujahid Force meant their operations were often more disciplined, less public, and sometimes far more dangerous than the spontaneous insurgency inside the Valley.

Many of these Pahari fighters lost their lives in cross-LoC raids, shelling incidents, or covert operations deep inside contested zones. Yet, their sacrifices were often buried not just in graves but in silence.

The Problem of Ignorance and Erasure

One of the most painful aspects of the conflict for Paharis is the narrative erasure they’ve experienced. Despite decades of commitment to the Kashmir cause:

They are accused of “faking” their Kashmiri identity by some Valley elites.

Their martyrdoms are rarely reported in media or acknowledged in popular literature.

They are invisible in global discourse, often reduced to bystanders, refugees, or sympathizers, never equals.

This erasure is not just disrespectful; it's politically dangerous. It deepens the divisions between communities that should be united under a shared historical and spiritual cause.

The Need for Recognition

To truly honor the Kashmir struggle, we must expand our lens. The conflict didn’t only burn the streets of Srinagar, it scarred the valleys of Kotli and the mountains of Bagh. The mothers of Mirpur weep for sons buried in silence, just as those in Pulwama do.

A new, more inclusive narrative is essential one that does not rank suffering or gatekeep identity, but embraces the diverse tapestry of the region: Valley Kashmiris, Paharis, Dogras, Gujjars, Shins, and beyond.

The Path Forward

For the millions of Pahari youth growing up in divided lands, hearing that they are “not Kashmiri enough,” the solution lies in reclaiming truth:

Academic spaces must acknowledge Pahari involvement in the conflict.

Policy and advocacy must include Pahari voices in all discussions about the region’s future.

And people especially Valley elites and diaspora leaders must shed the myth of exclusive Kashmiri victimhood.

Because if Kashmir is a tragedy, then it’s a tragedy shared. And no region, no ethnicity, no mother’s tears should ever be forgotten.

By remembering the invisible soldiers, we honor not just history, but humanity.