Rawalakot Clashes in Pakistan‑Occupied Kashmir Kill Dozens Amid Protests

On July 14‑15 2026, armed clashes erupted in Rawalakot and other towns of Pakistan‑occupied Kashmir (PoK/PoJK). Pakistani security forces, including Rangers and police, opened fire on demonstrators linked to the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), which was planning a mass march to Muzaffarabad on July 15. Reported death tolls vary across outlets: six civilians killed near the Rawalakot bus terminal, eight killed after tear‑gas and live fire, nine fatalities in combined incidents, and seven more deaths reported the following day, bringing the total to at least 30 deaths since early June. Among the dead were civilians such as Zahid Mughal, Zafar Mughal, Arsalan Akbar and Wajid Hayat; a police officer also died in a separate confrontation. Protesters are demanding the repeal of 12 reserved legislative seats for refugees from Indian‑controlled Kashmir, an end to high taxes, electricity tariffs, and what they describe as Pakistani military oppression. The Pakistani administration responded with curfews, internet blackouts, road blockades, and a crackdown on the banned JAAC. Hundreds of schoolchildren marched with white flags despite warnings, and the diaspora staged demonstrations abroad. India’s foreign ministry condemned the Pakistani security response as excessive, calling for international scrutiny.