India calls for international accountability over Pakistan's crackdown on Azad Kashmir protests

India’s Ministry of External Affairs has urged the global community to hold Pakistan accountable for a crackdown on protests in Pakistan‑occupied Jammu and Kashmir (Azad Kashmir). The protests, described by the Indian spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal as the result of decades of systemic exploitation, denial of rights and heavy‑handed policing, have intensified ahead of regional elections. More than 600 civil‑rights activists, political organisers and community leaders have been arrested, prompting Amnesty International to condemn the excessive force and the unlawful proscription of the Jammu and Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee.

The Indian statement also referenced Pakistan’s long‑standing policy in the region, citing historical armed incursions and the support of militant groups such as Lashkar‑e‑Taiba. Human Rights Watch has documented restrictions on political pluralism, suppression of expression and persecution of dissent in Azad Kashmir and Gilgit‑Baltistan. India is calling for independent investigations and international pressure to prevent further human‑rights abuses and to ensure that the voices of the Kashmiri people are heard.