Islamabad: Pakistan has adopted an uncompromising stance against the escalating unrest in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), with Defence Minister Khawaja Asif declaring that the government will hold no negotiations with the protesters, whom he described as an “enemy like India.”
Addressing reporters in Islamabad, Asif dismissed any possibility of dialogue, signalling that Islamabad intends to confront the agitation through force rather than engagement. His remarks came as reports of mounting casualties and allegations of a sweeping crackdown further deepened the crisis in the disputed region.
The banned Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) has claimed that 20 of its activists have been killed and many others injured in clashes with Pakistani security forces since Monday. The casualty figures have not been independently verified by Pakistani authorities.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s adviser Rana Sanaullah alleged that although JAAC had initially submitted 38 demands, the organisation was now attempting to seize Muzaffarabad and Mirpur by force. He further likened the protesters’ actions to “an attack like India.”
JAAC Alleges Deadly Security Crackdown
JAAC has accused Pakistani security forces of using lethal force against demonstrators, maintaining that its supporters were carrying only sticks during the protests.
Pakistani law enforcement agencies have rejected the allegation, claiming the protesters were armed with sophisticated weapons and opened fire on security personnel. Officials said the final death toll would only be confirmed after post-mortem examinations and official verification.
Election Row Fuels Unrest
The unrest coincides with elections to the so-called Legislative Assembly in PoK.
Preliminary results from Monday’s first phase of polling for 13 seats indicate:
- Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) won nine seats.
- Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) secured four seats.
- Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), led by jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan, boycotted the polls.
The PPP has accused the authorities of widespread electoral manipulation in favour of the ruling PML-N. Voting for the remaining 32 seats is scheduled for 2 August and 10 August.
For weeks, JAAC has demanded the abolition of 12 disputed reserved seats, alleging that Pakistan’s establishment uses them to engineer governments of its choice rather than reflecting the will of the people.
Violence erupted during a “Long March” from Rawalakot to Muzaffarabad, with both sides blaming each other. JAAC insists its protesters were unarmed apart from sticks, while police maintain they faced armed demonstrators carrying modern firearms.
Internet Blackout and Media Curbs
Following the violence, Pakistani authorities suspended internet services across several parts of PoK and reportedly restricted local media from covering the protests, drawing further attention to the deteriorating situation in the region.
India Rejects Pakistan’s Poll Process
India has consistently dismissed Pakistan’s electoral exercise in PoK as an attempt to legitimise its illegal occupation of the territory.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reiterated that the entire Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, including the areas under Pakistan’s illegal occupation, remain an integral part of India.
He further stated that the widespread protests in PoK reflect growing anger over Pakistan’s economic exploitation, administrative repression and the continued denial of the fundamental rights of the people living in the region.
