Srinagar, India — The struggle against Indian governance is intensifying in Jammu and Kashmir as well as in several states across the country, undermining Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s assertions of a decline in militancy. As resistance movements gain strength, they present a stark contrast to official claims of stability and security in the region.
Recent reports indicate a growing wave of armed dissidence within Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and increasingly autonomous sentiments in various Indian states. This climate of unrest has led to a dramatic uptick in confrontations with Indian security forces, challenging the narrative that the government has effectively curbed armed resistance.
Since the onset of the conflict in the late 1980s, more than 56,000 incidents linked to militancy have been recorded, revealing a grim toll that includes both Indian soldiers and civilians. Proponents of the resistance argue that heavy-handed measures implemented by the Modi administration, including repressive security policies and polarizing societal rhetoric, have exacerbated tensions rather than diffusing them.
The population in Kashmir has endured significant losses amid ongoing clashes, with an estimated 14,930 civilians and 6,413 soldiers killed over the decades. While Indian forces claim to have neutralized 23,386 combatants, the consequences of these operations frequently blur the line between combatants and civilians, raising serious concerns about human rights violations.
The current landscape of unrest extends beyond Kashmir, as states like Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, and others present increasing challenges to central authority. Reports indicate yearly resistance-related incidents in these regions, contributing to casualties among Indian soldiers and further complicating the security situation.
In recent years, the scale of violence has raised alarms. Between 2000 and 2025, nearly 5,000 civilians lost their lives due to military operations, alongside 12,037 incidents tied to resistance movements in IIOJK alone. In 2024 alone, 29 soldiers, including five officers, were killed in related clashes, underscoring the persistent threat that these movements pose to state security.
As of this year, resistance efforts in IIOJK, Nagaland, and Manipur have escalated. Reports show that 19 soldiers fell victim to these attacks just in 2025, alongside significant casualties from cross-border incidents, including a major assault that claimed 250 lives. This surge contradicts official proclamations of restored normalcy and suggests a precarious security environment.
Heightened activity among groups like Maoists and Naxalites in northeastern states signifies a broader crisis within Indian governance, where aspirations for autonomy grow louder. The events unfolding suggest that the narrative of a pacified India is increasingly at odds with the reality of rising discontent and calls for independence echoing across the nation.
As these movements gather momentum, they may signal a pivotal turn in India’s socio-political landscape, challenging the government’s grip on power in regions long seeking greater autonomy and rights.