Colonial Legacies and Contested Territories: Unravelling UK-PoK Relations with a Focus on Mirpur

This Article examines the UK’s historical and contemporary ties with PoK, focussing on ‘AJK’, and, in particular, the Mirpuri diaspora in the UK, through the lenses of colonial legacies, mass migration, and recent developments. Focusing on the 1967 Mangla Dam-induced migration as a pivotal moment, it analyses the socio-political influence of the Mirpuri diaspora in the UK and the geopolitical implications of recent events like British Envoy Jane Marriot’s 2024 Mirpur visit, which sparked India’s protest. By focusing on human-centric dimensions—migration patterns, identity tensions, diaspora activism—the Article highlights the complexities of UK-PoK relations and their ripple effects on India-UK-Pakistan ties. Colonialism, Kashmir, Migration, Diaspora, Identity, Radicalisation.