India has issued a forceful condemnation of Pakistan’s recent crackdown on mass protests in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), describing the actions of Pakistani forces as “horrific” and emblematic of a broader pattern of oppression and resource exploitation in the disputed region. The rebuke comes as unrest, sparked by mounting economic and political grievances, has swept through PoJK’s towns for nearly a week, with the capital Muzaffarabad at the heart of the turmoil.
According to multiple reports, including coverage by Dawn and statements from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi, at least 10 civilians have been killed and dozens more injured during violent confrontations between protesters and security forces. The unrest, which began on September 29, 2025, has seen thousands of residents take to the streets under the leadership of the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC), initially demanding relief from soaring electricity tariffs and inflation, but quickly evolving into a wider political movement seeking deep reforms.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, addressing reporters during the weekly press briefing on October 3, did not mince words: “We have seen reports on protests in several areas of Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir, including brutalities by Pakistani forces on innocent civilians. We believe that it is a natural consequence of Pakistan’s oppressive approach and its systemic plundering of resources from these territories, which remain under its forcible and illegal occupation. Pakistan must be held accountable for its horrific human rights violations.”
The JKJAAC, a coalition of civil society groups and traders, has rallied behind a sweeping 38-point charter of demands. These include subsidized wheat flour, free education and healthcare, the abolition of elite privileges, and the scrapping of 12 assembly seats reserved for refugees from Jammu and Kashmir. Protesters have also called for the abolition of special privileges for government officials and ministers, and for large-scale development projects to address chronic neglect.
As the protests entered their sixth day, the government response has been swift and severe. Pakistani authorities enforced a communications blackout on September 28, cutting off internet and telecommunications in an attempt to stifle coordination among demonstrators. Schools and colleges have been closed, and additional police and paramilitary forces have been rushed in from other provinces. Shops, markets, and public transport in Muzaffarabad have been shuttered for days, bringing daily life to a grinding halt.
Violence escalated sharply when, according to JKJAAC leader Shaukat Nawaz Mir, “facilitators” armed with “institutional weapons” fired directly on peaceful demonstrators at Neelum Bridge. Mir stated, “All the citizens of Muzaffarabad were peacefully recording their protest when some facilitators, with institutional backing, arrived and opened direct fire in the presence of police and administration. We have evidence of this. One youth was martyred, and more than 20 were injured by direct fire. We will not forgive this murder under any circumstances.”
Other local leaders, such as Faisal Jamil Kashmiri, have pointed to years of unfulfilled promises and deepening economic hardship as the spark that finally pushed the public to the brink. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), an independent watchdog, has strongly criticized the use of force, calling the killing of civilians and law enforcement personnel “unacceptable” and insisting that dialogue “cannot be meaningful amid the continued political disenfranchisement of the people” in PoJK.
The scale of public anger was on full display during mass funerals held in Muzaffarabad, where thousands gathered to mourn the dead and demand justice. Video footage shared online showed crowds chanting slogans, underscoring the intensity of the movement and the mounting pressure on Pakistani authorities. PTI leader Syeda Zahra commented on social media, “The tsunami of Kashmir will hit Muzaffar today,” referencing both the outpouring of grief and the rising tide of protest.
In a bid to calm the unrest, Pakistan dispatched a high-level delegation led by senior federal ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Rana Sanaullah, and Qamar Zaman Kaira, joined by former PoJK president Sardar Masood Khan, to negotiate with protest leaders. Talks began late on October 2 and continued into the following day, but protest representatives, including Shaukat Nawaz Mir, Raja Amjad Ali Khan, and Anjum Zaman Awan, insisted that accountability for the killings must precede any substantive discussions on political reforms.
Despite the heavy-handed crackdown, the protest movement has shown remarkable resilience. Caravans of demonstrators have continued to reach Muzaffarabad and other towns, even as security forces attempt to secure bridges and restrict movement. Reports of fresh clashes and injuries continued to emerge on October 3, with civil society representatives vowing to persist until their demands are addressed.
This wave of demonstrations marks the third major uprising in PoJK since 2023. Previous protests have also centered on rising electricity tariffs, food shortages, and lack of access to basic services such as healthcare and education. The current agitation, however, appears to be the most sustained and widespread, fueled by what many see as decades of economic and political neglect, as well as the exploitation of the region’s resources by Pakistan’s Punjab-based political and business elites.
India, for its part, has reiterated its longstanding claim that Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh, including the areas under Pakistani occupation, are “an integral part of India.” MEA spokesperson Jaiswal emphasized, “Pakistan’s governance of these territories is neither legal nor sustainable. What we are seeing is the inevitable breakdown of a system built on repression and neglect.”
The international community has started to take notice. Human rights organizations and diplomatic observers are raising alarms over the use of force and the deepening humanitarian crisis. The HRCP’s condemnation of state violence has added to the chorus of voices demanding accountability and a meaningful resolution to the region’s longstanding grievances.
Meanwhile, the political temperature continues to rise. Internet shutdowns, heavy troop deployments, and blockades have failed to quell the protests, which show no sign of abating. The population, galvanized by years of frustration and the recent bloodshed, appears more determined than ever to push for change.
As the standoff in PoJK enters its second week, the crisis stands as a stark reminder of the unresolved disputes and simmering tensions that continue to define the region. With both local and international scrutiny intensifying, the coming days will likely prove decisive for the protest movement—and for the future of governance in this long-contested territory.
