Onlykashmir.in News Desk
Violence in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir has reached a dangerous new threshold, with the death toll from ongoing clashes between protesters and Pakistani security forces rising to 20 as of Friday. The situation in Muzaffarabad and surrounding areas has deteriorated sharply, with little sign of the demonstrations abating despite a crackdown imposed by authorities.
The protests have been spearheaded by supporters of the Joint Awami Action Committee, a group that has been banned by Pakistani authorities but continues to command significant public support across PoJK. The JAAC has for years been demanding substantive economic reforms and better governance for the region — rights that residents argue have long been denied to them under the Pakistani administrative framework. The movement has gained renewed momentum in recent weeks, transforming from localised demonstrations into a widespread expression of public anger.
Pakistani authorities have responded by enforcing restrictions in several parts of the region, including curbs on movement and public gatherings. Businesses across affected areas remain shuttered, and internet services have been disrupted in parts of Muzaffarabad — a tactic that has drawn criticism from civil society observers as an attempt to control the flow of information about the crackdown.
The rising death toll and the scale of the unrest underline a fundamental governance crisis in PoJK. For decades, residents of the region have complained of economic neglect, a lack of political representation, and exploitation of natural resources without commensurate development benefits for the local population. The JAAC movement, though officially banned, has become the most visible articulation of these long-suppressed grievances.
From the Indian side of the Line of Control, the developments are being closely monitored. India has consistently maintained that PoJK — referred to as Azad Kashmir by Pakistan — is an integral part of the Indian Union, and the ongoing unrest there is seen as a reflection of the illegitimacy of Pakistani administration over the territory. The situation adds a new layer of complexity to an already volatile regional security environment.
