Kashmiri diaspora protests in Belgium over PoK unrest

Members of the Kashmiri diaspora in Belgium conducted a protest march from the European Parliament to the United Nations office in Brussels. The demonstrators condemned alleged atrocities and killings of civilians by Pakistani security forces in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) amid rising regional unrest.

Protesters called for international intervention to address reported human rights violations, including the use of excessive force against demonstrators and restrictions on essential services. The Jammu Kashmir Human Rights Observatory (JKHRO) reported that 93 civilians died during the unrest between June 5 and August 5.

This event follows similar demonstrations by the diaspora in Bologna, Italy. The Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), a civil society group in the region, has appealed to the international community to address what it describes as a crackdown on peaceful demonstrators demanding basic rights. British parliamentarians have also expressed concern regarding reports of live ammunition being used against protesters.