India Condemns Pakistan Crackdown on Kashmir Protests

The Ministry of External Affairs of India has urged the international community to hold Pakistan accountable for what it describes as egregious abuses during a violent crackdown on protests in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). The unrest, driven by high living costs, political discrimination, and a court ruling on reserved assembly seats, has led to the deaths of more than 20 people. In Rawalakot, security forces killed at least six civilians, including Zahid Mughal and Zafar Mughal, during clashes near the New Bus Terminal.

Pakistani authorities have arrested over 600 activists and banned the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) under anti-terrorism laws. Amnesty International condemned the ban as a disproportionate attack on freedom of association. Despite these measures, hundreds of students and parents protested at Rawalakot's Eidgah Ground on July 14. Intelligence reports suggest the Pakistani establishment may target JAAC leadership, with Army Field Marshal Asim Munir reportedly instructing security forces to use brute force and pressuring the government to reject protesters' demands.

In response to police brutality, internet blackouts, and the blockade of food and medicine, the JAAC ended negotiations and organized a long march toward Muzaffarabad on July 15. Protesters continue to demand the restoration of essential services and an end to arbitrary arrests. The Indian government characterizes the violence as a direct consequence of Pakistan's decades-long systemic exploitation and administrative oppression in the region.