THE CASE STUDY OF ONTOLOGICAL SECURITY: STATE SECURITIZATION AND ITS IMPACT ON YOUTH IDENTITY IN AZAD KASHMIR
THE CASE STUDY OF ONTOLOGICAL SECURITY: STATE SECURITIZATION AND ITS IMPACT ON YOUTH IDENTITY IN AZAD KASHMIR
In politically sensitive and strategically significant regions, identity is shaped not only by culture and history, but also by the narratives promoted and regulated by the state. In such contexts, young people often grow up navigating between multiple layers of national, regional, and local identity each influenced by broader security dynamics.
By Nofal Bin
Adeel
Azad Jammu and
Kashmir (AJK), administered by Pakistan, offers a distinctive case for
examining how state securitization intersects with youth identity formation.
While the region is formally referred to as “Azad” (free), its governance and
political expression are shaped by the broader Kashmir dispute and Pakistan’s
national security concerns. The securitization of the Kashmir conflict has
historically contributed to a controlled political environment, a carefully
managed media space, and limits on certain forms of civic activism, especially
those perceived as diverging from dominant national narratives.
This case study applies the concept of ontological security, which refers to the need for a stable sense of self and continuity, to explore how securitization policies may influence the identities and worldviews of youth in AJK. It investigates the extent to which national narratives, educational frameworks, media representation, and governance structures contribute to a sense of belonging, or conversely, generate ambivalence and identity negotiation among young people.
Ontological security research argues that political actors seek a stable sense of self continuity, predictability, and recognition sometimes even over physical safety. According to Mitzen’s classic formulation shows how states reproduce routines to sustain self-identity, while Steele emphasizes identity-serving actions under moral or honor logics while Zarakol extends this to how status anxieties and stigma shape state behavior. [1] According to the theory of Securitization theory by the Copenhagen School of thought explains how elites frame an issue as an existential threat to move it “beyond politics,” legitimizing exceptional measures; audience acceptance is crucial. This framework underpins analyses of how states cast internal dissent, borders, and identity claims as security risks[2]
Together,
Ontological security and securitization suggest is when authorities narrate
threats (external or internal) to national order, they not only manage risk but
also stabilize their own self-conception. This often reorders everyday life for
communities especially youth whose identities are still consolidating from the
changing external dynamics surrounding them
Kashmir
Ontological Security
According
to Aditya Gowdara on Kashmir Ontological Security Reevaluating the role of Self
Identities in a Multilayered Conflict in Indian Administrative Kashmir (2022) argues
that how Mainstream International Relations theories like realism and
liberalism and new wars theories such as greed and grievance fails to capture
the complex dynamics of the Kashmir Conflict. He also explains how Ontological
Security helps bridges this gap showing how Identities of society and ethnic
groups of Kashmir whether its Kashmiri Muslims or Pandits intersect to shape
interstate behavior and conflict dynamics. [3]
Similar
analysis can also be seen by the Professor of Political science and school of
International Relations (SPIR) at Quaid e Azam University which explains on his
book Mass Resistance in Kashmir: its origins, evolutions and option (1995)
focus on the genealogy and dynamics of
the resistance movements in Kashmir hence explaining how resistance and
Identity threats threats interact hence laying a conceptual foundation that
intersect with ontological security [4]
When looking at the discourse study on Ontological Security in Azad Kashmir compared to its Indian Counterpart there seem to be limited research conducted on sociological security dynamic. In regards the most common analogy is factors such as the Geopolitical visibility where Indian Administrative Kashmir due to its relatively larger geographical area and population attract more international attention especially in light of events such as the 2019 abrogation of Article 370 and the militarized crackdown of civic society in contrast
Azad Kashmir due to its lesser geopolitical
significance and smaller population compared to its Indian counterpart is less
covered by International scholars, think tanks and media where crisis remained
mostly on economic and administrative issues (e.g 2024 Azad Kashmir protests)
as compared to State Protests. Despite this there seem to be some inherent sense of Political deprivation and
feeling of misunderstanding among the Kashmir youth over the dynamics of what
really counts as the identity narrative of being a Kashmir citizen in Azad
Kashmir.
Narrative framing also plays an significant discourse on the disparity of research between the Indian Administrative Kashmir and Azad Kashmir as Pakistan centric researchers and policy makers presentation of Azad Kashmir as a “liberation zone” administrated by Pakistan reduces significant research study of ontological insecurity in societies within Azad Kashmir societies over the dominant narrative alignment with the Pakistan National Identity and the presentation of it being an Ideal Model State in contrast to the Indian Administrative Kashmir . [5] There is also a sense of focus on Global Research Priorities as when studying the Kashmir conflict is focused more towards the securitization aspect of the region and the insurgency movement in contrast to the humanized aspect of civilian society and their perceived views . Despite this there is some limited research done towards Ontological security studies in Azad Kashmir.
Kashmir
Youth Identity
Azad
Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) has long been presented by Islamabad as the
“liberated zone,” a space meant to safeguard Kashmiri culture and identity in
contrast to the repression often described across the Line of Control (LoC).
Yet, within AJK itself, a paradox emerges: the very measures designed to
protect Kashmiri identity tight regulation of political expression, curated
curricula, media censorship, and security-driven governance often securitize
that identity instead.
The
Promise: Safeguarding Kashmiri Heritage
From
school textbooks to official ceremonies, the state frames AJK as the custodian
of Kashmiri history and aspirations. Cultural events, poetry recitals, and
memorials reinforce a collective narrative that Kashmiris are distinct,
resilient, and central to Pakistan’s vision of self-determination. This
protective discourse aims to Preserve the Kashmiri heritage from dilution. The
second factor is to counter Indian claims of assimilation in Jammu &
Kashmir and thirdly to provide a symbolic anchor for Pakistan’s broader Kashmir
policy.
In
this sense, identity is not just cultural but rather it is strategic capital. Across
the broader Kashmir literature, youth are frequently positioned within
overlapping security discourses, surveillance, and curtailed civic space. Studies
and reports describe how young people mobilize outside formal politics,
leverage digital media, and face heavy state response patterns that reshape
identity formation, political socialization, and feelings of agency. [6]
In
AJK specifically, one of the few youth-focused surveys highlights socioeconomic
stressors, conflict proximity, and support for confidence-building measures,
pointing to pragmatic, peace-oriented preferences among young people. There is a
Language-attitude work with AJK youth shows prestige tilting toward Urdu over
Kashmiri, with implications for cultural continuity and self-identification.
Research on curricula and national identity in Pakistan documents how textbooks
and schooling embed official narratives (religion-nation linkages, conflict
framings), shaping how students imagine the nation and its “others”; this
matters for AJK youth educated within national systems.
Recent
events underscore how security framings reorganize youth life-worlds. In May
2024, AJK saw large protests over electricity and flour prices; escalatory
policing and regulatory responses (e.g., restrictions on assemblies) illustrate
how socioeconomic grievances become entwined with public-order securitization.
In 2025, amid cross-LoC tensions, the AJK government temporarily closed
hundreds of religious seminaries a measure justified by threat perceptions disrupting
education for tens of thousands of (mostly young) students and signaling how
macro-security narratives directly restructure youth routines and spaces.
Reporting on intensified strikes and fears in Pakistan-administered Kashmir
further captures a climate in which exceptional measures and anticipatory
control are normalized
Mechanism
of Securitization Shaping Youth Identity in AJK
There is various mechanism which are continuously shaping youth identity in AJK the first factor is narrative construction by the state in which the Pakistani state frames AJK as a “liberated zone” rather than a conflict zone. This securitized narrative ties Kashmiri youth identity to the ideology of Pakistan’s nationalism and Islamic brotherhood, leaving little space for alternative self-identifications which is also increasingly witnessed by Kashmiri youth students I interviewed as part of my case study. Secondly the use of education and curriculum where school textbooks often embed the Kashmir cause a securitized framework, emphasizing loyalty to Pakistan and portraying India as the perpetual threat as youth internalize this narrative, which limits critical engagement with their own localized identity.
Thirdly the use of local and national media highlight AJK as a frontline of resistance against Indian occupation where such as civic rights, local governance, or cultural identity are sidelined, pushing youth to adopt a securitized lens in interpreting their place in society. There is also the factor of AJK youth which are constantly being reminded that they are “better off” than youth in Indian-administered Kashmir While there is evidence backing this statement considering the ongoing human rights gross violation occurring by Indian army on the Indian-administrated Kashmir
and the feeling of AJK progressing further in human development than its Indian counterpart the constant feeling of being perceived as an Ideal model state in comparison creates a fragile ontological security where they feel secure only in contrast to the “other” but lack positive identity construction.[7][8] There is also a constant identification that many young people combine genuine attachment to the Kashmiri cause with practical frustration about underinvestment, limited job prospects and the inability to shape their own institutions. This duality pride alongside resentment fuels both conformity and quiet dissent
Opinion
of Youth of Youth Identity in AJK
In order to study the impacts of ontological security in which state securitization and its impact of youth identity in Azad Kashmir regarding ontological security a sample size of 10 participants was held from youth in Azad Kashmir aged 18 to 28 in a form of semi-structured interview. They were all either people currently residing in Azad Kashmir or had their paternal villages there .
There was informed consent regarding all the participant who interviewed their responses via google forms and confidentiality and right of privacy was maintained. According to this the results generated from this study it was found out that majority of participants felt that that while Kashmiri identity is respected on Pakistani state institutions and society while at the same time felt a sort of misrepresentation by the projection of AJK as a Model State as compared Indian Administrated Kashmir arguing this as selective representation or misrepresentation arguing that the term problematic because it simplifies a very complicated political reality which is that both regions of Kashmir live in Political ambiguity with their ultimate fate to be decided.
Among these participant there was also of feeling insecurity regarding
their future and identification of their own identity regarding what truly
defines as being Kashmiri and the same dilemma of ethnic identity narratives
dilemma which might been witness on the other side of the border . While
citizens in AJK unlike the Indian Administrated Kashmir feel very aligned with
their Pakistani identity and their ability to remain as an autonomous region
but they still feel like their ability to project their own independent
politicism away from Islamabad influence made them feel frustration. Another
frustration among these youth based of this survey was their portrayal being
solely limited to patriotic and loyal but rarely as independent
thinkers with diverse opinions. While this doesn’t defer them from having high
levels patriotism from the state of Pakistan which all respondents felt with it
create a sort of hollow dilemma as something beyond as political victims of the
Kashmiri struggle.
Significance of the study
This study helps contributes to the theoretical
understanding of ontological security by applying it to a subnational,
conflict-affected context. Unlike traditional analyses that focus on state
behavior in international relations, this research examines how state-led securitization
impacts youth identity formation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). It brings
attention to a relatively underexplored area where national security narratives
intersect with local identity, education, and political expression.
Empirically, the study sheds light on how young
people in AJK navigate issues of belonging, representation, and agency within a
securitized environment. It highlights how state narratives, institutional
structures, and controlled discourse shape youth perspectives. The findings
offer valuable insights for policymakers, educators, and civil society actors
seeking inclusive and context-sensitive approaches to youth engagement and
regional stability.
ETHNIC
DILEMMA
According to Political scientist Javaid Hayat on his book Azad Kashmir: Polity, Politics and Power sharing, argues that AJK’s territorial governance has been shaped largely by its dependency on Pakistan, with indigenous voices often marginalized. Hayat highlights the significance of biradari (clan-based) and regional identities as critical to understanding political dynamics in AJK. He calls for constitutional reforms that would make space for these internal identity narratives to flourish rather than being overshadowed by overarching state-driven agenda.
At the same time Journalistic
reporting underscores that AJK is ethnically diverse, with biradaris exerting
strong influence over voting behavior. Unlike the valley across LoC, diverse
ethnic nature of AJK plays out in region’s electoral politics. Voters often
support candidates from their own biradari regardless of political party affiliation
These ethnolinguistic cleavages reinforce clan identities as foundational
political units potentially more influential than party ideologies themselves. [9]
While across the Indian side of the border there are
a lot of studies regarding ontological security among Kashmiri youth this
similar insight can be applied on our side of the border in AJK . According to Mohamad
Junaid explores how Kashmiri youth through storytelling and digital platforms forge
political subjectivities rooted in resistance and “community of remembrance.”
Their identity narratives challenge hegemonic state discourses by reframing
history and memory. [10]Similarly,
according to Al Jazeera Centre for Studies also notes that younger generations
in Kashmir are thinking beyond strictly religious or nationalist binaries sometimes
critiquing the roles of both India and Pakistan in shaping the conflict and
identity discourse[11]
Even when I went undercover to hear Kashmiri youth opinions from AJK on social microblogging app Reddit on its subreddit for Jammu and Kashmir I found an interesting analysis regarding their opinons to the politicization of Kashmiri Identity One responder explained that it is hard to even define ethnic Kashmiri… almost every major family group in Kashmir has migrated… In that sense only people who speak Kashur can be called Kashmiri.” Another respondent from reddit argued that ethnicity and statehood don’t always align together by claiming that “We are not ethnolinguistically Kashmiri… but we are Kashmiri by statehood.”.
This bring an interesting on some narratives among youth from both sides of Kashmir who might be fatigued from the Politicization of their own Kashmir identity by the conflict and their ability to express their own identity narratives expression. While vast difference on the circumstance exist on both side of the borders for the Kashmiri citizen a common analogy among is that youth Kashmiris on both sides of the border seems to be ethnically confused on the ambiguity of the future of their identity and feel very disillusioned by their counterparts rather than seeing each other as one
Reshaping Ethnic Identity in
Kashmir: Pathways Toward Resolution
The Kashmir conflict has long been framed as a
territorial dispute, but its heart also beats in questions of identity. For
decades, narratives from both India and Pakistan have securitized Kashmiri
belonging, compressing a plural and layered identity into rigid binaries of
loyalty and opposition. The result has been generations socialized to see
identity as a security problem rather than a living cultural reality.
Reshaping ethnic identity in Kashmir requires a
deliberate shift away from securitized framings toward inclusive, locally rooted
narratives. De-securitization means creating spaces where language, culture,
and memory can be expressed without suspicion. Recognizing Kashmiri languages Kashur,
Pahari, Gojri, Balti and protecting cultural practices as legitimate forms of
belonging can help detach identity from national security imperatives. When
cultural expression is valued rather than policed, identities become resources
for cohesion rather than instruments of division.
Pluralism must be reclaimed as a foundational principle. Kashmir’s past includes Sufi traditions, syncretic practices, and intercommunal ties that complicate simplistic religious or nationalist labels. Policy and pedagogy that foreground this plural history through curricula, museums, public commemorations, and community arts would challenge exclusivist narratives and offer youth more varied blueprints for identity.[12] Young people are central to any transformation.
While many youth inherit binary
narratives, they are also adept users of digital media and storytelling.
Platforms for youth-led cultural festivals, cross-border exchanges, civic
forums, and digital archives of oral histories can empower new modes of
belonging. Investing in education, vocational opportunities, and civic
platforms enables youth to imagine futures anchored in dignity rather than
grievance. These investments must be sustained and locally designed,
intentionally including young voices in policymaking and program design.
Dialogue across divides is another indispensable
tool. Facilitated conversations between communities in Indian-administered
Kashmir, AJK, and the diaspora can surface shared experiences loss, aspiration,
and cultural memory that cut across imposed borders. Such encounters do not
erase political differences but humanize the “other,” reducing identity’s
instrumentalization for hostile politics and building networks of solidarity.
Finally, restorative justice and cultural autonomy
should form the architecture of any durable settlement. Truth-telling,
acknowledgment of harms, and reparative measures restore trust and validate
local narratives. Granting meaningful cultural and administrative autonomy
empowers Kashmiris to rebuild institutions that reflect their diverse
identities on their own terms.[13]
Reshaping identity in Kashmir is neither a quick fix
nor a path to forced consensus. It is a long-term project of trust-building,
policy reform, and cultural affirmation. When identity is decoupled from security
and recentered around pluralism, agency, and youth empowerment, it can
transform from a battleground into a foundation for reconciliation and
sustainable peace. Small, persistent steps—local dialogues, curricular reforms,
and youth cultural initiatives can cumulatively change how future generations
relate to one another and strengthen shared belonging always.
Closure
In the end, the struggle in Kashmir is not only about land or sovereignty but about how young people see themselves and their place in the world. For decades, the securitization of identity in Azad Jammu & Kashmir has offered only fragile forms of belonging ones built on comparisons, silences, and binaries. Yet the voices of youth show that another future is possible. By reclaiming language, culture, and plural traditions, and by creating spaces where young people can speak as authors of their own story rather than subjects of national security, identity can be reshaped into something durable and life-affirming.
Dialogue across borders, truth-telling
about past harms, and recognition of diversity are not luxuries; they are the
building blocks of peace If AJK’s youth are given the chance to root their
ontological security in dignity, continuity, and inclusion, they can move
beyond inherited insecurities and fractured narratives. What emerges then is
not only a stronger Kashmiri identity but also the possibility of a shared
future where belonging is no longer a battleground but the foundation for
reconciliation.
[1] Mitzen (2006); Steele (2008); Zarakol (2011) for OS theory.
[2] Buzan, Wæver & de Wilde (1998) and overviews of securitization theory.
[3] Shivamurthy, A. G. (2022). Kashmir and ontological security: Re-evaluating the role of self-identities in a multi-layered conflict. Journal of Asian Security and International Affairs, 9(2), 255–279.
[4] Amin, T. (1995). Mass resistance in Kashmir: Origins, evolution, options.
[5] New Yorker. (2005, November 14). Fault Lines.
[6] AJK youth survey/report and language-attitude study.
[7] Sehr Rushmeen, “Jammu and Kashmir: Two Worlds, One Region,” South Asia Times, August 13, 2024,
[8] Alvi, Abdul Basit. “AJK Leading Pakistan and IIOJK in Growth, Development, and Quality of Life.” Daily The Destination, 2024
[9] https://tribune.com.pk/story/2311080/caste-ethnic-loyalties-decide-poll-favourites-in-ajk?utm_source=chatgpt.com
[10] .Junaid, M. (2017). Community of remembrance: Narratives of violence and the politics of commemoration among Kashmiri youth (Doctoral dissertation, City University of New York). CUNY Academic Works. https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/2123
[11] Al Jazeera Centre for Studies. (2016, March 15). Kashmiri youth: Redefining movement and determination. Al Jazeera Centre for Studies.
[12] Mitzen, J. (2006). Ontological security in world politics: State identity and the security dilemma. European Journal of International Relations, 12(3), 341–370
[13] Bose, S. (2009). Kashmir: Roots of conflict, paths to peace. Harvard University Press.
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