After a massive crackdown on peaceful protest by residents of PoJK, costing innocent human lives, Islamabad drew table for an agreement between JAAC led by Shaukat Nawaz Mir and the Government. However, this agreement (October 04) might be more of a stop-gap rather than a real, lasting solution. Out of 38 demands sought by the protestors, only 25 were agreed to. It leaves 13 unaddressed demands including some of the most political sensitive ones and many have vague timelines or depend upon feasibility studies and will prove to be eyewash for the protestors.
The violent suppression of peaceful Kashmiri protesters demanding basic rights—through force and censorship—not only exposed the Islamabad government and Pakistani security forces but also drew condemnation from Pakistani nationals and people worldwide. In Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, demonstrators faced a blanket ban by mainstream news media, internet blackouts, and heavy-handed assaults by security forces; yet they remained steadfast in their fight against injustice.
Under the leadership of the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), people of Kashmir presented a 38-point charter of demands, which included reduction in electricity charges, price controls for food items, elimination of privileges and perks of the ruling elite, bureaucracy, better education and civic facilities, among others. The Islamabad government and Pakistani Army, however, chose to suppress the protest through violent means. In 2023, a similar protest was silenced first by oppression and then leading an agreement between protestors and Reconciliation Committee of Cabinet members wherein the latter had agreed to fulfil their demands but story remained the same.
Instead of holding dialogue with the protestors, Pakistan initially resorted to a ruthless crackdown, along with cutting off phone links and internet access to the region and physical violence against them. “Why is no one talking about what’s happening in Azad Kashmir? There’s no news, the internet is shut down, and people overseas can’t even call their families. All they wanted was their rights, and the Pakistan govt deployed rangers and cut the internet,” said Amir, a Kashmiri scientist.
JAAC leader Shaukat Nawaz Mir compared atrocities to “a witch bent on killing people” as the peaceful protestors seeking basic rights were killed and beaten. “Our struggle is not against an individual, but against an entire system. Together, we will raise our voice against this system,” he said. Mir also appealed to the Kashmiri diaspora to rise, protest, and expose the brutality of the State of Pakistan before the world.
Many Kashmiris filmed the brutal crackdown and oppressive action by the Pakistani security forces, who did not just use tear gas but opened fire on the crowd. About ten armless people died while hundreds injured. “We had come out for a peaceful protest when their people arrived, first they pelted stones and then fired straight bullets at us, five of our people are currently admitted to the hospital in a critical condition!” said one young protestor.
Protestors and many people from Pakistan blamed Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir for the atrocities and oppression in the Kashmir region. “This movement must be a turning point for a bigger movement across Pakistan to get rid of Asim Munir/military establishment rule from Pakistan forever. We must join hands with this movement in supporting it and strengthening it,” said Sohail M Khattak, a Pakistani citizen.
Pakistani researcher Ammar Rashid called the uprising in Kashmir a direct consequence of the military’s dismantling of civilian and political institutions. “In recent years, this regime has systematically delegitimised and made a mockery of every single institution – from assemblies to courts to parties to the media – designed to mediate social conflict & function as pressure valves,” he said.
The movement drew support from the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) and the Gilgit-Baltistan Awami Action Committee (GB-AAC).
Pakistani media has been criticised for siding with the establishment while ignoring the plight of affected people. “The most disgraceful part is the role of Pakistan’s mainstream media. Instead of exposing these atrocities, they are deliberately hiding the truth,” said Pakistani Yawar Sardar. “This same media is silencing the voice of the Action Committee and portraying the oppressors as innocent. Such a role is not only shameful but unforgivable.”
Pakistani activist Sir Ahmed Khokhar shared a video showing thousands of Kashmiris marching to press their demands, a development largely suppressed by mainstream media outlets. “The scenes of the revolution that have emerged in Kashmir will not be shown to you by any agent, any compromised media, or any lackey. Something big is about to happen in Kashmir,” he said.
Several people shared videos of Kashmiris being beaten up by the Frontier Corps (FC), a paramilitary force under the control of the Pakistan Army. “Nepal has been replicated in Kashmir, the worst violence by FC personnel on Kashmiris, give the people their rights, embrace the people, there is no other way,” said Fawad Khan, a Pakistani national.
Although Islamabad attempted to censor the protests, the voices of Kashmiri demonstrators resonated internationally, with solidarity rallies held in several countries, including the UK and Canada. “The Kashmiri community in Sheffield, United Kingdom, held a show of solidarity with the Action Committee, voicing support for the ongoing movement in Pakistan-administered Jammu and Kashmir,” said Azhar Ahmed, a British national of Pakistani origin.
Seeking investigations into the excessive use of force by law enforcement by Pakistani security forces, Amnesty International said the situation in Kashmir was preventable. “This is not the first time the authorities have cracked down on peaceful protests in the region,” said Babu Ram Pant, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for South Asia. “The Pakistani authorities must immediately lift the blanket communication ban to allow people to exercise their rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and access to information.
Although the agreement offers a roadmap and fund allocation for improvement of infrastructure in PoJK, its success, however, depend on the follow through and honest implementation which is most unlikely. Delays in budget releases, bureaucratic disinterest and political bargaining could still evade the trust. Pakistan is already under economic constraints and fulfilling large subsidies and infrastructure promises are difficult in this environment. The recent protest and promises has put Islamabad in a bigger dilemma as IMF bailout packages require rationalisation of subsidies which drives up the prices of goods and services imposing higher cost of living. The sincerity with which Pakistan federal government implements its commitments will closely be tracked as any sloppiness on its part is likely to invite similar protests.
