NEW DELHI: India on Friday condemned Pakistan’s violent crackdown on protesters in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), where security action has left at least 10 people dead and dozens injured. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said Islamabad must be held accountable for “horrific human rights violations” in the region.
The unrest in PoK erupted last month after the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) a coalition of civil society groups and traders demanded the abolition of special privileges for government officials and ministers, as well as the scrapping of 12 assembly seats reserved for refugees from Jammu and Kashmir.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, addressing reporters at the weekly briefing, noted reports of widespread protests and “brutalities by Pakistani forces on innocent civilians.” He said, “We believe this violence is a natural outcome of Pakistan’s oppressive policies and its ongoing exploitation of resources from territories under its illegal occupation. Pakistan must be held accountable for these horrific violations.”
Reiterating India’s longstanding stance, Jaiswal added that Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh are and will always remain “an integral part of India.”
On Friday, negotiations were held in Muzaffarabad between Pakistan’s federal representatives and JAAC leaders, following days of protests and violent clashes. Talks earlier between the groups had collapsed, triggering widespread unrest across PoK.
Since September 28, Pakistani authorities have enforced a communications blackout, cutting off internet and telecommunications. Schools and colleges have been shut, while additional police and paramilitary forces have been rushed in from other provinces to tighten control.
This marks the third major wave of demonstrations in PoK since 2023, with residents previously protesting rising electricity tariffs, food shortages, and a lack of access to basic services such as healthcare and education. Protesters have also raised demands for large-scale development projects, reflecting mounting frustration over neglect.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), an independent watchdog, has strongly criticised the use of force, calling the killing of civilians and law enforcement personnel “unacceptable.” It further stressed that dialogue “cannot be meaningful amid the continued political disenfranchisement of the people” in the region.
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