Joint Awami Action Committee Leads Protests in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir

The Joint Awami Action Committee is leading ongoing protests and a region-wide shutdown in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir to demand basic rights and an end to governance failures. Protesters have shuttered markets and organized a wheel-jam strike, comparing the lack of healthcare, education, and electricity in their region to the developmental progress seen in Jammu and Kashmir.

In Rawalakot, conditions have remained curfew-like for 11 days, with peaceful sit-ins continuing despite security crackdowns on convoys arriving from Neelum Valley. The committee alleges that the Punjab Police established a nighttime blockade near the Sonu area to prevent the transport of essential food, medicine, and relief materials.

The Government of Pakistan has faced criticism for allegedly diverting electricity from local hydropower projects to the national grid, resulting in local blackouts. Authorities have reportedly used arrests and pressure tactics to suppress the movement. Observers note that the Pakistani government may attempt to distract from the unrest by sponsoring foreign political visits to highlight issues in Jammu and Kashmir, citing a similar 2022 trip by US Congresswoman Ilhan Omar that was funded by Islamabad.