Opinion | Inside the Current Escalating Turmoil in Pakistan Occupied Jammu & Kashmir

There is not any shadow of doubt regarding the policy and pattern of Pakistan in crushing any mass movement or public unrest. History presents itself as evidence, be it in Balochistan, Bangladesh, or POJK. The Pakistan-occupied region of Jammu and Kashmir has long been in international discourse, and not for any good reasons, but human rights concerns, protests, poverty, and crisis perpetrated by its occupier, Pakistan. The occupied region is once again in the same discourse over the past few months especially, and unfortunately for the same reasons.

As of now, a major crisis is unfolding in POJK ahead of elections. It all started with issues such as poverty, unemployment, education, and basic rights. As these demands were not met, public anger grew and eventually took the shape of mass protests. We are all familiar with Pakistan’s response a brutal and inhumane one which ultimately led to the suppression of the public movement. But, as the saying goes, the more you suppress something, the greater the pressure it builds. As time passed and elections approached, local bodies under the umbrella of the JAAC raised their voice for social and political reforms, including decentralization of power, the revocation of the controversial refugee seats, and the removal of the mandatory oath required for members to enter the assembly. Locals allege that these provisions tighten Pakistan’s grip over POJK, help Islamabad influence election outcomes, facilitate the formation of governments that favour Pakistan’s interests, and create a vacuum where local needs and voices remain unheard while Islamabad continues to exercise control. Alongside these political demands, basic issues such as poverty, unemployment, electricity, and livelihoods have remained major points of contention. Multiple rounds of talks between POJK representatives and Pakistan have been held, but Pakistan’s unwillingness to address these controversial provisions has led to failed negotiations which further consolidates and lends weight to the locals’ allegations that these provisions primarily serve Pakistan’s interests by enabling it to exercise greater control over POJK.

As the situation reached a breaking point, public anger and frustration spilled onto the streets. Even before the protests, the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC), regarded by many protesters as the principal platform representing their demands, had been banned and designated a terrorist organization by the Pakistani authorities. When people took to the streets demanding social and political rights, they were met with a brutal and inhumane response. Within a matter of days, several protesters were reported killed, while many others were injured and arrested, activists were detained communication networks internet were made de-functional, businesses were shut, food and medicine supply was stopped reportedly and education was badly disrupted during the crackdown by Pakistani authorities all this was done to kill the will of protesters to protest force them to stay at home and remain silent and least about this is known to the world as the blockade there imposed by Pakistan never lets news to ooze out to the world and national and local media is highly controlled by the Pakistani supremo Army and then its elected government.

I myself saw the visuals coming out of POJK. It was a mayhem, a bloodbath. Dead bodies being taken away, blood-stained clothes, firing, tear shells, deserted markets, crackdowns, barbed wire it was all disheartening and terrible.

But all these tactics and dirty tricks could not fully kill the resolve of the innocent citizens of POJK, as the occupied region is once again witnessing turmoil much larger than the previous ones. The state of Pakistan is once again back to its dirty old tricks to suppress and crush the protesters. Once again, Pakistan’s negligence, dirty politics, and control have brought the occupied region into darkness. The occupied region is undergoing a fresh wave of killings, arrests, and detentions over the past few days.

So, the issue is not only of social and economic problems or political reforms, but also of how the state manages public unrest, how it responds to protests, and how its unwillingness to address local issues can bring death, pain, and misery to the people. The recent protests are not an isolated incident. The current turmoil follows years of recurring protests over electricity tariffs, taxation, inflation, unemployment, and demands for genuine administrative reforms. These repeated episodes suggest that many grievances are structural rather than temporary. The response of the authorities has also attracted criticism. The use of security measures, arrests of protest organizers, restrictions on public gatherings, and temporary communication controls have been viewed by critics as responses that prioritize control and suppression over political engagement. Human rights organizations have urged the authorities to respect the rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression while maintaining public security, but all has gone in vain.

The unrest also exposes Pakistan’s drama of so called Free/Azad Jammu and Kashmir. While to the world it advocates for peace but suppresses the very people it controls/occupies. Pakistan presents PoJK as autonomous, with a “self-governing” political structure and a so-called prime ministerial system, but in reality, it is the most occupied territory where demanding basic rights can earn you a Pakistani bullet.

This also exposes Pakistan’s Kashmir hypocrisy. It presents itself as a guardian and advocate of Kashmiri rights and the right to So-called right to self-determination for the people of Jammu and Kashmir, while the Kashmir it occupies has none of these. Pakistan is unable to digest well established fact that the Kashmiris have exercised their right of self-determination in October 1947 by acceding to India willingly and lawfully, not by force and invasion. Unlike Pakistan did with POJK, and in J&K there is no mandatory oath and a controversy of reserved seats like POJK has. So, who is free or has exercised right to self-determination: POJK or Jammu and Kashmir?

So, the world must come together with one voice and stop Pakistan from unleashing terror in POJK and address the basic grievances and needs of the public, allow political engagement rather than a military response that can destroy lives, homes, and families.

Alizaroon112@gmail.com