Kashmir protests in Pakistan-administered region spark deadly clashes

Protests organised by the banned Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) have spread across Pakistan‑administered Jammu and Kashmir, reaching Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Demonstrators have carried placards and the Kashmiri flag, demanding political autonomy, an end to violence and the implementation of promised reforms. Police have responded with tear‑gas, baton charges and detentions; several protesters were arrested in Lahore and dozens were detained in other cities.

The unrest turned lethal in Muzaffarabad, where at least two people were killed, including a passer‑by identified as Moeez, and reports indicate more than 30 civilians were killed in recent clashes. Injuries number in the hundreds. Internet and mobile services were disrupted in several districts.

The protests have severely disrupted the second phase of elections in the region, with road blockades preventing election staff and materials from reaching polling stations in constituencies such as LA‑27 Kotli and LA‑28 Muzaffarabad‑II. The electoral process has been called into question, and opposition groups have criticised the authorities’ handling of the vote.

Human‑rights groups and residents allege excessive use of force and media restrictions. One resident, Sardar Aman Khan Kashmiri, said, “If there are terrorists here, let Pakistan’s media and the international media come and see for themselves.” A tweet from a demonstrator read, “Our voices will not be silenced. We stand with our brothers and sisters in Kashmir. #KashmirSolidarity.” International organisations have called for investigations and an end to communications blackouts.