Unrest escalates in Pakistan-administered Kashmir over regional strike

Tensions continue to simmer in Pakistan-administered Kashmir (PAK) on Monday, as a region-wide strike called by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), an alliance of political and civic organizations, sparked clashes with security forces.

The protests are aimed at pressuring the government over governance, resource distribution, and political representation in the region.

The unrest has left several people injured and forced the closure of businesses, schools and transport services across all 10 districts. JAAC leaders in Muzaffarabad sought to gather supporters at Neelum Bridge, but security forces blocked the assembly, triggering confrontations.

In response, the Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference, a ruling coalition party, organized a peace march earlier today to maintain order.

Security sources said that armed JAAC activists targeted the peace rally, turning their frustration from a failed protest onto ordinary citizens. The clashes resulted in at least 11 civilians being injured and in Battal, an ambulance was reportedly blocked, leading to the death of an elderly man, Muhammad Sadiq, who could not receive timely medical care.

The sources also claimed that JAAC supporters used slingshots and other weapons against police, indicating a premeditated intent to provoke violence. Local residents, angered by the ambulance incident, reportedly dismantled some of the barricades themselves.

Authorities further said that “wanted men” were among the JAAC participants. In response to the violent turn of events, law enforcement agencies have launched legal action against JAAC leaders and activists, signaling a firm crackdown on the group’s disruptive activities.

Government urges calm amid rising violence

Speaking on television a day ago, PAK Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwaar ul Haq called for compassion, noting that many demonstrators were ordinary citizens influenced by “different narratives.”

Another view of a tense street in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.Nukta

He warned, however, that violence would be met with legal consequences. Haq emphasized the need to protect shopkeepers wishing to operate and underscored that processions must have administrative approval, while attacks on police or road blockades would not be tolerated.

JAAC appeals to UN over crackdown

In a letter to UN Secretary-General António Guterres and international human rights bodies last week, JAAC urged the United Nations to investigate what it described as a state crackdown on peaceful protests.

The group claimed three civilians were killed, dozens injured, and journalists and demonstrators harassed over the past year. JAAC accused authorities of deploying heavy security ahead of the September 29 strike to stifle dissent and requested a UN mission to assess the situation.

Core demands and political standoff

JAAC has threatened a full lockdown across all districts unless its demands are addressed. These include abolishing reserved assembly seats for Kashmiri refugees, removing perks for top officials, ensuring fairer resource allocation, implementing anti-corruption measures, improving electricity and water access, creating youth employment opportunities, enforcing merit-based recruitment, carrying out judicial and administrative reforms and holding free local elections.

Negotiations between the government and JAAC collapsed on September 25. Federal ministers Tariq Fazal Chaudhry and Amir Muqam, representing PM Sharif, said Islamabad had accepted most of JAAC’s legitimate requests on subsidies and utilities but rejected proposals requiring constitutional amendments.

JAAC leaders maintain that two key demands remain unresolved and have vowed to enforce a complete regional shutdown starting September 29.