THE question of Kashmir has never been merely a territorial dispute; it has always been a question of identity, demography, political will and the fundamental right of a people to determine their own future.

In recent years, however, a new dimension has emerged that many observers describe as the “Indianization of Kashmir” — a systematic effort to alter not only the administrative and constitutional framework of the region but also its demographic and cultural character.

Since the unilateral revocation of Articles 370 and 35A of the Indian Constitution in August 2019 by the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the former state of Jammu and Kashmir has undergone sweeping structural changes. What was once recognized as a disputed territory with special constitutional status has been downgraded into a Union Territory, directly governed from New Delhi. This move did not merely change a legal provision; it fundamentally transformed the relationship between Kashmir and the Indian Union.

One of the most debated aspects of this transformation is the introduction of new domicile laws. For decades, Article 35A safeguarded land ownership and employment rights for permanent residents of Jammu and Kashmir. Its removal has opened........

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