India Condemns Pakistan Crackdown After 100 Deaths in PoJK

The Government of India condemned Pakistan for a violent crackdown on anti-government demonstrators in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), where security forces reportedly killed more than 100 people. The unrest, led by the Joint Awami Action Committee, began on June 5 over grievances including electoral rigging, inflated living costs, and political marginalization. Reports indicate security forces used lethal force, blackouts, and shelling in areas such as Kotli, Rawalakot, and Mirpur, resulting in the death of a five-month-old infant.

India's Ministry of External Affairs characterized the violence as a reflection of the Pakistani establishment's "absolute disdain" for civilians. Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal described the region's recent elections as a "humiliating rejection" of the Pakistani state. He specifically cited remarks from Rana Sanaullah, who admitted that some protesters were Mujahideen previously trained by the state to fight in India and had now turned against the Pakistani government. Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif further escalated tensions by categorizing the protesters as enemies in the same category as India.

The crisis sparked wider reactions across the region. Activists at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi held a silent protest for human rights, while displaced PoK residents in Jammu, led by Rajiv Chuni, urged India to liberate and integrate the region. The United Kashmir People's National Party has called for urgent intervention by the United Nations to protect civilians from continued state repression.