At least 12 people, including two security personnel, were killed in clashes in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK) on Tuesday, ahead of a planned protest march by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC). Authorities have deployed nearly 4,000 Rangers, police, and Frontier Corps personnel to block the demonstration.
Escalating unrest in POK
The violence erupted a day before the JAAC’s long march from Rawalakot to Muzaffarabad, the administrative center of POK. Cities remain sealed, and authorities have imposed an undeclared media blackout in Rawalakot, barring journalists from entering. The JAAC, which Pakistan’s establishment labels a "proscribed" outfit, has pressed ahead with protests despite the crackdown.
Protests in POK, which Pakistan has occupied since 1947, began over demands for political representation and economic reforms. The movement has since expanded, with the JAAC’s 38-point charter calling for judicial reforms, tax relief, and better public services. Leaders have accused Islamabad of blocking food and medicine supplies, worsening the humanitarian crisis.
Government response and JAAC denial
Pakistani authorities claim the clashes resulted from attacks by "armed JAAC activists," while the group denies responsibility. The JAAC stated that security forces deployed armed men in civilian clothes to fire shots and falsely implicate protesters. "The Action Committee belongs to the people, and the people are peaceful; they have no weapons," the JAAC said in a post on X.
India’s External Affairs Ministry condemned Pakistan’s use of force, stating the protests reflect "systemic exploitation" and "administrative oppression" in POK. The international community has been urged to hold Islamabad accountable for alleged abuses.
