AUGUST 5, 2026, marks the seventh anniversary of the revocation of Article 370 and Article 35A, the special constitutional status of Jammu and Kashmir and reorganized the state into the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. It was described as a “transformative” decision that would bring peace, development, transparency, investment and political stability. However, seven years later, the main question is whether those promises have brought a lasting political settlement or made an already complex conflict more complicated. The debate on Article 370 has shifted from the legality of abrogation to the practical consequences. New Delhi points to better infrastructure, rises in tourism, improved road and rail connectivity and a decline in violence incidents, but these metrics, in Indian views, cannot replace democratic legitimacy, political participation, civil liberties and public trust.

Rapid expansion of infrastructure has caused fears of deforestation, environmental degradation and changing land use patterns, threatening the fragile Himalayan ecosystem and local water resources. However, traditional livelihoods, especially apple orchards and saffron cultivation, are under increasing pressure, raising concerns of economic insecurity and displacement among rural communities. A major unresolved issue is the delay in the restoration of the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir. The region continues to be a........

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