Kashmir of Today – The Modern Identity, Resilience and Spirit of Its People

From Yesterday to Today

We are the children of a land that has known too much silence. From the songs of our ancestors to the stories whispered by rivers, Kashmir has lived through every season of human history; empires, borders, conflicts, and rebirths.

Today, as we stand in a world forever changing, we look back not with despair, but with gratitude for the journey that has made us who we are.

Kashmir of today is not just a place on the map. It is an emotion that lives in our homes, our prayers, and our memories. It is the smell of snow on the pine trees of Neelum, the sound of Azaan echoing through the valleys of Muzaffarabad, the laughter of children in Bagh, the farming and animals in Mirpur, the mothers and fathers left behind in kotli and the unspoken longing of those far from home in Birmingham, Bradford, or Dubai.

Our story is one of endurance, of a people who have learned to rebuild after storms, to rise after loss, and to keep faith alive even when the world forgot to listen.

One Heart, Many Borders

The land we call Kashmir is today divided by lines drawn not by nature but by history. On one side lies Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan, and on the other, Indian-held Jammu and Kashmir. Yet every Kashmiri, whether from Neelum or Srinagar, Mirpur or Kupwara, shares the same rhythm of heart.

These borders have separated families for generations. Letters once crossed the Line of Control; now silence does. Still, the spirit of unity among Kashmiris remains unbroken. We are one people, bound by our mountains, our language, and our faith.

In 2019, when Article 370 was revoked, it altered the legal and social landscape of Indian side of Kashmir. In AJK, meanwhile, life continued with cautious optimism, developing education, roads, and tourism, while carrying the emotional weight of a divided heritage.

We do not speak of politics. We speak of people, the shopkeepers in Muzaffarabad, the students in Rawalakot, the mothers who pray for peace on both sides of the border. The geography may have changed, but our belonging never did.

Azad Kashmir Today – Resilience Amid Beauty

Azad Kashmir today is a portrait of resilience. Despite its limited resources, it continues to progress in education, infrastructure, and social development.

The region’s literacy rate stands at around 76%, among the highest in Pakistan-administered areas. New universities and colleges have emerged in Muzaffarabad, Bagh, and Mirpur, nurturing a generation eager to learn and lead.

Healthcare and infrastructure are improving too. Over 5,000 kilometres of roads now connect remote valleys to towns, allowing trade, tourism, and aid to flow where once only rivers did. In Neelum Valley, hydroelectric projects power homes that were once lit by lanterns.

But progress has come at a cost. The 2005 earthquake still echoes in the memories of those who lost everything. In Balakot and Muzaffarabad, entire families rebuilt their lives brick by brick. “We had nothing left,” says Parveen, a teacher from Bagh, “but the sound of our children reading again — that’s when we knew we had survived.”

Tourism is rising once more. In 2024, more than 1.3 million visitors explored AJK’s mountains, lakes, and heritage sites. Neelum Valley, Pir Chinasi, and Banjosa Lake now host local and international travellers. Yet amid this beauty, locals remain conscious of preserving the environment, protecting forests, managing waste, and respecting the balance that has sustained these valleys for centuries.

The Spirit That Never Left

Beyond the politics and the numbers lies something far deeper, the Kashmiri spirit. It is built on faith, humility, and love for simplicity.

Our elders call it Adab, the art of respect. Every greeting carries warmth, every guest is treated like family. Sabr — patience — runs through our veins, taught by the mountains that stand silent yet strong through every storm. Izzat — honour — defines how we live, how we speak, how we care for one another. And Mehman-nawazi — hospitality — remains our greatest pride.

Learn about our cultural values here, lets revive our culture together.

“My mother says patience isn’t about waiting,” recalls Yasir, a young volunteer from Kotli. “She says it’s about walking through pain until it becomes your strength.”

Even in exile or diaspora, these values travel with us. Whether we live in a valley or a city flat in London, we still greet each other with the same warmth, share food from the same hand, and remember where our roots lie.

Faith remains the heartbeat of Kashmir. Mosques, from the wooden Jama Masjid in Muzaffarabad to the grand domes of Mirpur, stand as symbols of continuity. Through hardship, faith becomes not an escape but an anchor — a reminder that the path of struggle is also a path of hope.

The Kashmiri Diaspora – Our Lives Abroad, Our Hearts at Home

Across the world, from the UK to the Gulf, Europe to North America, the Kashmiri diaspora continues to keep its connection alive. The largest communities are in Britain; Birmingham, Bradford, Derby, Manchester, and Luton, where streets echo with familiar accents and kitchens smell of saag, roti, and nostalgia.

Our journey overseas began with the displacement caused by the Mangla Dam project in the 1960s, when tens of thousands of families were uprooted from Mirpur and surrounding areas. Many migrated to Britain for work, rebuilding lives from scratch. They built mosques, community centres, and charities that continue to support families back home.

More about the Mangla Dam displacement here.

“We came here with nothing but a suitcase and a memory,” says Farooq, who arrived in Derby in 1971. “Now we send our children to university, but our hearts are still in Kashmir.”

Over time, our diaspora expanded beyond Britain. In the Middle East, Kashmiri workers help sustain their families through remittances. In Canada and the US, young Kashmiris are telling our story in new ways, through digital media, education, and activism. From Dubai to Birmingham, the shared thread is always love for the homeland.

Second and third-generation Kashmiris are rediscovering their roots. Through online archives, social media, and charity work, they are reconnecting with a history their grandparents once lived. Many volunteer through welfare foundations, sponsor schools, or visit villages to see where their families once stood.

“We may have been born in Manchester” says Amina, a student volunteer, “but when we visit Kashmir, it feels like the earth itself recognises us.”

This connection of faith, family, and giving is what keeps the Kashmiri identity alive across oceans.

Challenges of the Present Day

Yet life in Azad Kashmir remains far from easy. Poverty, unemployment, and environmental vulnerability still affect thousands. Around 75% of the population lives below the poverty line, and many rely on remittances from overseas relatives.

Climate change poses new threats. Glacial melt and deforestation have increased the risk of floods and landslides, especially in Neelum and Leepa. Infrastructure is improving, but fragile mountain roads are often washed away by seasonal rains.

Healthcare access remains uneven. Major hospitals in Muzaffarabad and Mirpur serve thousands, but rural areas still lack doctors and basic facilities. Despite this, the resilience of the people stands unmatched. In remote villages, teachers, imams, and volunteers step in where governments fall short.

Technology has begun to transform life. Smartphones, internet cafes, and youth initiatives are giving new voice to communities once isolated by geography. AJK’s young population, over 60% under 30, represents both the challenge and the promise of tomorrow.

“We don’t want sympathy,” says Hamza, a student from Rawalakot. “We want skills, opportunities, and solar energy. We want to build a future here, not somewhere else.”

The Road Ahead – Knowledge, Faith and Unity

Kashmir’s future will be written not by borders but by its people. Education, sustainability, and unity are our greatest tools.

Universities in Muzaffarabad, Kotli, and Mirpur are nurturing scientists, engineers, and scholars who dream of a self-sufficient region. Tourism, if managed wisely, can become a pillar of growth, turning natural beauty into opportunity without harming the environment.

See our Tourism HUB for further details about Tourism in Azad Kashmir.

Diaspora organisations, especially those rooted in faith and welfare, continue to play a vital role. Projects in health, climate, and education are bridging worlds, allowing Kashmiris abroad to uplift those at home. The more we learn, the more we give back.

Women are rising too. From teachers in Bagh to entrepreneurs in Mirpur, their leadership is transforming communities. “When a woman earns in Kashmir,” says Parveen, “the whole family stands taller.”

Faith remains our moral compass. Every initiative, every effort, is built upon the belief that service (khidmat) is a form of worship. That ethos defines us, wherever we live.

Our generation carries the responsibility of preserving both memory and momentum. We must learn from history, invest in education, and care for the environment. The world may see Kashmir as a region of struggle, but we know it as a land of potential — a bridge between resilience and rebirth.

Thats why we have dedicated a whole section to Kashmir’s history.

The Heart Still Beats

Kashmir is not a headline. It is a heartbeat.

It beats in the laughter of children playing by the Jhelum River, in the silent prayers of mothers waiting for news, and in the voices of diaspora communities gathering for charity dinners in Derby or Doha. It beats in every act of compassion, every remembrance, every dream that begins with Insha’Allah.

We are not defined by borders, but by belonging. Every Kashmiri from Muzaffarabad to Manchester, carries a piece of the valley in their heart. Our journey from past to present has been one of loss, learning, and unshakable faith.

As we look to the future, we do so with hope. We see a Kashmir that educates its children, protects its forests, honours its martyrs, and welcomes travellers from around the world.

Through every storm, our people have proven one truth: Kashmir lives. It lives in our dua, our identity, our unity, and our will to serve. We are Kashmir — yesterday, today, and always.