New Delhi: In the years since India revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019, officials in New Delhi have pointed to expanded hospitals, universities, and local councils as evidence of improved capacity of the union territory. Across the Line of Control, in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, residents and independent observers describe persistent shortages in basic services. Add to this, increased violence by occupying Pakistani military forces. An estimated over 90 people have died in PoJK (Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir) in the last 2 months.&nbsp;In governance parameters, the Indian union territory has grown leaps. Healthcare illustrates the gap most clearly. In the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, two All India Institutes of Medical Sciences have been established, one each in Jammu and Kashmir, alongside a number of new government medical colleges. The region has also been brought under the national Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme, which aims to cover hospital costs for eligible families. Indian authorities say annual medical student intake now exceeds 1,100.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/did-trump-snub-pakistan-ex-us-general-says-pak-qatar-compromised-mediators-1785852825375">Did Trump snub Pakistan? Ex-US General says Pak and Qatar ‘compromised’ mediators</a>&nbsp;In Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, health facilities remain limited. Local reports and civil society assessments cite a doctor-to-population ratio of roughly one to 3,900, well below the World Health Organization’s guidelines.&nbsp;&nbsp;Residents frequently travel to hospitals outside of the occupied region for procedures that cannot be performed locally, often at significant personal expense amid high inflation.&nbsp;Education follows a similar pattern. UT of J&amp;K, hosts an Indian Institute of Technology, an Indian Institute of Management and several universities. Skill-development programmes and technical training have been expanded with the stated aim of integrating young people into the wider economy. In PoJK, there are just a few higher-education institutions, many of them underfunded. Graduates commonly leave for jobs in the Gulf, contributing to what local analysts describe as a brain drain.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/arrogance-leads-to-destruction-mk-stalin-slams-cm-vijay-over-son-udhayanidhi-s-arrest-1785846477229">‘Arrogance leads to destruction’: MK Stalin slams CM Vijay over son Udhayanidhi’s arrest</a>&nbsp;Governance structures also differ. On the Indian side, the Panchayati Raj system of elected village councils has been strengthened, with direct benefit transfers and digital payment mechanisms intended to reduce leakage in welfare schemes.&nbsp;&nbsp;In PoJK the so-called “legislative assembly” operates under the oversight of the Kashmir Council and federal authorities in Islamabad. Critics, including local activists, say the body has constrained fiscal and administrative powers.&nbsp;&nbsp;Protests over electricity shortages, flour subsidies, and resource royalties have been met with brute force and internet restrictions.

Across the Line of Control, in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, residents and independent observers describe persistent shortages in basic services. Health facilities are limited with a doctor-to-population ratio of roughly one to 3,900, well below the World Health Organization’s guidelines.

New Delhi: In the years since India revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019, officials in New Delhi have pointed to expanded hospitals, universities, and local councils as evidence of improved capacity of the union territory. Across the Line of Control, in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, residents and independent observers describe persistent shortages in basic services. Add to this, increased violence by occupying Pakistani military forces. An estimated over 90 people have died in PoJK (Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir) in the last 2 months. In governance parameters, the Indian union territory has grown leaps. Healthcare illustrates the gap most clearly. In the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, two All India Institutes of Medical Sciences have been established, one each in Jammu and Kashmir, alongside a number of new government medical colleges. The region has also been brought under the national Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme, which aims to cover hospital costs for eligible families. Indian authorities say annual medical student intake now exceeds 1,100. Also Read: Did Trump snub Pakistan? Ex-US General says Pak and Qatar ‘compromised’ mediators In Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, health facilities remain limited. Local reports and civil society assessments cite a doctor-to-population ratio of roughly one to 3,900, well below the World Health Organization’s guidelines. Residents frequently travel to hospitals outside of the occupied region for procedures that cannot be performed locally, often at significant personal expense amid high inflation. Education follows a similar pattern. UT of J&K, hosts an Indian Institute of Technology, an Indian Institute of Management and several universities. Skill-development programmes and technical training have been expanded with the stated aim of integrating young people into the wider economy. In PoJK, there are just a few higher-education institutions, many of them underfunded. Graduates commonly leave for jobs in the Gulf, contributing to what local analysts describe as a brain drain. Also Read: ‘Arrogance leads to destruction’: MK Stalin slams CM Vijay over son Udhayanidhi’s arrest Governance structures also differ. On the Indian side, the Panchayati Raj system of elected village councils has been strengthened, with direct benefit transfers and digital payment mechanisms intended to reduce leakage in welfare schemes. In PoJK the so-called “legislative assembly” operates under the oversight of the Kashmir Council and federal authorities in Islamabad. Critics, including local activists, say the body has constrained fiscal and administrative powers. Protests over electricity shortages, flour subsidies, and resource royalties have been met with brute force and internet restrictions.

Across the Line of Control, in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, residents and independent observers describe persistent shortages in basic services. Health facilities are limited with a doctor-to-population ratio of roughly one to 3,900, well below the World Health Organization’s guidelines.

Seven years after removal of Article 370, J&K expands hospitals & colleges while PoJK is engulfed in violence

Pakistan's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting accused Al Jazeera of "yellow journalism" for its coverage of violence during the Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) elections. Users in Pakistan reported that access to the Qatari broadcaster's website had been blocked, though there is no formal government directive on this. This came days after a Pakistani general warned against Afghanistan-India ties, asking the Muslim-majority neighbour not to associate with 'kafirs', or disbelievers. But Al Jazeera is a channel from Qatar, a Muslim-majority nation with which Pakistan has traditionally enjoyed friendly relations. So it is not about ‘’kafirs". Then what is it?<h2>Kafir narrative punctured: Criticism of Pakistan is the problem</h2>On July 31, Pakistan Army spokesperson Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said: "Allah Almighty has made it very clear — do not take the kafirs [disbelievers] as your friends or protectors. If you do so, then you are no longer among the Muslims." Reacting to recent remarks by an Afghan Taliban minister that India and Afghanistan shared the same DNA, Chaudhry framed the relationship as one of master and slave. "RSS-BJP are masters, Taliban their slaves," he said, referring to India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ideological fountainhead, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).This is typical Pakistan, invoking a religious binary to explain geopolitical rivalries and casting itself as the defender of the Muslim world confronting hostile, non-Muslim adversaries.But none of this matters when Pakistan is killing or suppressing its own people, from PoJK to the regions along its border with Afghanistan, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.If Pakistan can restrict, vilify, and delegitimise reporting by one of the most influential media organisations in the Islamic world, then kafirs are not its problem; scrutiny is.<h2>Don't kill the messenger: Nothing wrong with Al Jazeera reporting on PoJK violence</h2>The recent protests and their violent suppression in PoJK followed allegations of electoral irregularities and unrest surrounding the polls in the territory, which New Delhi does not recognise as part of Pakistan, maintaining that Jammu and Kashmir, including areas under Pakistan's illegal occupation, are inalienable parts of India.Pakistan could have responded with fact-based arguments addressing the substance of Al Jazeera's reportage through transparency or independent verification. Instead, its Ministry of Information and Broadcasting accused the broadcaster of "selective reporting" from "handpicked polling stations". It alleged that Al Jazeera had used "scripted statements" to serve "external actors with vested interests".It amounted to questioning, and then 'killing', the messenger rather than addressing the events on the ground, and asing the crucial question: Why are people in PoJK unhappy?There was no transparent, publicly notified prohibition on Al Jazeera issued by either the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) or the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, at the time of writing this.&nbsp; Instead, users reported that Al Jazeera's website had become inaccessible, suggesting an unofficial or extra-legal restriction rather than a formally declared ban.<h2>A Chinese model of digital censorship architecture: Pakistan's 'little Great Firewall'</h2>By the time you read this, access to the Al Jazeera website may well have been restored. And that is precisely the problem. In recent years, this has become a familiar pattern in Pakistan's digital censorship regime: websites disappear without formal orders, only to reappear later without explanation, making accountability almost impossible.That censorship is possible because Pakistan now has one of South Asia's — and perhaps the world's — most sophisticated systems of internet control, increasingly modelled on China's approach to censorship.Under Section 37 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), further strengthened through subsequent amendments, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) can block online content on broad and vaguely defined grounds such as "national security", "public order", or even the "glory of Islam".To facilitate this, Pakistan has deployed a Web Monitoring System, initially built around technology supplied by Sandvine.This has been expanded with capabilities comparable to China's internet filtering system, commonly referred to as the Great Firewall.&nbsp; Much like the Chinese model, Pakistan now possesses the technological capability to block URLs, filter keywords, inspect internet traffic through deep packet inspection, and compel online platforms to remove content within prescribed timelines.&nbsp; Circumventing these restrictions has become increasingly difficult because of VPN registration requirements and tighter licensing frameworks.<h2>Journalism, monitored: Pakistan's multipronged attack on media</h2>This digital control is reinforced by expanding bureaucratic oversight of journalism itself. The 2026 Foreign Media Facilitation Guidelines mandate that all foreign correspondents, freelancers, and stringers operating in Pakistan register with the government and obtain prior No Objection Certificates (NOCs) before reporting from most parts of the country outside Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi.As reporting on PoJK increased amid the violence that killed dozens, the government tightened the implementation of these guidelines and further restricted access to sensitive areas.Clearly, the objective is to manage and suppress narratives, not enable independent reporting.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pok-violence-escalates-67-dead-as-india-rejects-pakistan-s-polls-as-a-cosmetic-exercise-gravitas-1785260044466">PoK violence escalates: 67 dead as India rejects Pakistan's polls as a 'cosmetic exercise' | Gravitas</a><h2>Pakistan's media blackouts are nothing new: Remember the Osama raid?</h2>The curbs on Al Jazeera are nothing new. Remember the Abbottabad raid that killed Osama bin Laden in 2011? That single operation exposed the fact that the world's most wanted terrorist had been living for years inside Pakistan, close to a major military academy, raising uncomfortable questions that Islamabad struggled to answer for years.When the US Navy SEALs entered Pakistani territory to eliminate the al-Qaeda chief behind the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Pakistan asked international broadcasters, including CNN, the BBC, Al Jazeera, Fox News, Voice of America, and Sky News, to halt live reporting and leave the area.Radio Mashaal was suspended in 2018 after being accused of anti-Pakistan reporting. The BBC has periodically faced restrictions. Local broadcasters such as Geo News have repeatedly been suspended or taken off air. Indian television channels remain banned. Numerous digital platforms critical of the government have been blocked or throttled.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/j-k-leaders-unite-to-condemn-crackdown-on-pok-protesters-call-for-dialogue-1785399859433">J&amp;K leaders unite to condemn crackdown on PoK protesters, call for dialogue</a><h2>Press freedom: A 'very serious' problem in Pakistan</h2>Pakistan ranks 153rd out of 180 countries in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), placing it in the "Very Serious" category. Freedom House classifies Pakistan as only "Partly Free" overall, while rating its internet environment as "Not Free".Military influence over the media, legal intimidation, digital censorship, enforced disappearances of journalists, and restrictions on independent reporting all contribute to these dubious distinctions.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/pok-erupts-against-pakistan-protest-leader-declares-kashmir-is-occupied-territory-1784093238306/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/pok-erupts-against-pakistan-protest-leader-declares-kashmir-is-occupied-territory-1784093238306/embed</a><h2>Is external criticism ‘anti-Muslim’ for Pakistan?</h2>The Pakistani establishment — comprising the government, military, and intelligence apparatus — often invokes Islam as the defining faultline separating Pakistan from India.External criticism is frequently portrayed as an extension of prejudice against a Muslim state. Such religious framing collapses when critical reporting on Pakistan originates not from New Delhi, London, or Washington, but from Doha.Al Jazeera's reporting is not the work of a "kafir" state pursuing an anti-Islam agenda.<h2>So what's the moral of this story?</h2>States that are uncomfortable with independent journalism resort to crackdowns regardless of ideology, religion, or the geography of their critics.Discredit the reporter, question the channel's motives, invoke national security, tighten access, and restrict the flow of information.Pakistan's handling of Al Jazeera demonstrates precisely this instinct. It reveals that the Pakistani establishment's objection is not to criticism from non-Muslim countries.It is to criticism itself. It is about inconvenient truths.&nbsp;DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of WION.

Pakistan's restrictions on Al Jazeera over PoJK election coverage expose a pattern of media censorship, internet control and narrative management. This has nothing to do with its 'kafir' rhetoric against critics, as the broadcaster is from Qatar, a fellow Muslim nation. 

Pakistan's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting accused Al Jazeera of "yellow journalism" for its coverage of violence during the Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) elections. Users in Pakistan reported that access to the Qatari broadcaster's website had been blocked, though there is no formal government directive on this. This came days after a Pakistani general warned against Afghanistan-India ties, asking the Muslim-majority neighbour not to associate with 'kafirs', or disbelievers. But Al Jazeera is a channel from Qatar, a Muslim-majority nation with which Pakistan has traditionally enjoyed friendly relations. So it is not about ‘’kafirs". Then what is it? Kafir narrative punctured: Criticism of Pakistan is the problem On July 31, Pakistan Army spokesperson Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said: "Allah Almighty has made it very clear — do not take the kafirs [disbelievers] as your friends or protectors. If you do so, then you are no longer among the Muslims." Reacting to recent remarks by an Afghan Taliban minister that India and Afghanistan shared the same DNA, Chaudhry framed the relationship as one of master and slave. "RSS-BJP are masters, Taliban their slaves," he said, referring to India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ideological fountainhead, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). This is typical Pakistan, invoking a religious binary to explain geopolitical rivalries and casting itself as the defender of the Muslim world confronting hostile, non-Muslim adversaries. But none of this matters when Pakistan is killing or suppressing its own people, from PoJK to the regions along its border with Afghanistan, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. If Pakistan can restrict, vilify, and delegitimise reporting by one of the most influential media organisations in the Islamic world, then kafirs are not its problem; scrutiny is. Don't kill the messenger: Nothing wrong with Al Jazeera reporting on PoJK violence The recent protests and their violent suppression in PoJK followed allegations of electoral irregularities and unrest surrounding the polls in the territory, which New Delhi does not recognise as part of Pakistan, maintaining that Jammu and Kashmir, including areas under Pakistan's illegal occupation, are inalienable parts of India. Pakistan could have responded with fact-based arguments addressing the substance of Al Jazeera's reportage through transparency or independent verification. Instead, its Ministry of Information and Broadcasting accused the broadcaster of "selective reporting" from "handpicked polling stations". It alleged that Al Jazeera had used "scripted statements" to serve "external actors with vested interests". It amounted to questioning, and then 'killing', the messenger rather than addressing the events on the ground, and asing the crucial question: Why are people in PoJK unhappy? There was no transparent, publicly notified prohibition on Al Jazeera issued by either the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) or the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, at the time of writing this. Instead, users reported that Al Jazeera's website had become inaccessible, suggesting an unofficial or extra-legal restriction rather than a formally declared ban. A Chinese model of digital censorship architecture: Pakistan's 'little Great Firewall' By the time you read this, access to the Al Jazeera website may well have been restored. And that is precisely the problem. In recent years, this has become a familiar pattern in Pakistan's digital censorship regime: websites disappear without formal orders, only to reappear later without explanation, making accountability almost impossible. That censorship is possible because Pakistan now has one of South Asia's — and perhaps the world's — most sophisticated systems of internet control, increasingly modelled on China's approach to censorship. Under Section 37 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), further strengthened through subsequent amendments, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) can block online content on broad and vaguely defined grounds such as "national security", "public order", or even the "glory of Islam". To facilitate this, Pakistan has deployed a Web Monitoring System, initially built around technology supplied by Sandvine. This has been expanded with capabilities comparable to China's internet filtering system, commonly referred to as the Great Firewall. Much like the Chinese model, Pakistan now possesses the technological capability to block URLs, filter keywords, inspect internet traffic through deep packet inspection, and compel online platforms to remove content within prescribed timelines. Circumventing these restrictions has become increasingly difficult because of VPN registration requirements and tighter licensing frameworks. Journalism, monitored: Pakistan's multipronged attack on media This digital control is reinforced by expanding bureaucratic oversight of journalism itself. The 2026 Foreign Media Facilitation Guidelines mandate that all foreign correspondents, freelancers, and stringers operating in Pakistan register with the government and obtain prior No Objection Certificates (NOCs) before reporting from most parts of the country outside Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi. As reporting on PoJK increased amid the violence that killed dozens, the government tightened the implementation of these guidelines and further restricted access to sensitive areas. Clearly, the objective is to manage and suppress narratives, not enable independent reporting. Also read: PoK violence escalates: 67 dead as India rejects Pakistan's polls as a 'cosmetic exercise' | Gravitas Pakistan's media blackouts are nothing new: Remember the Osama raid? The curbs on Al Jazeera are nothing new. Remember the Abbottabad raid that killed Osama bin Laden in 2011? That single operation exposed the fact that the world's most wanted terrorist had been living for years inside Pakistan, close to a major military academy, raising uncomfortable questions that Islamabad struggled to answer for years. When the US Navy SEALs entered Pakistani territory to eliminate the al-Qaeda chief behind the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Pakistan asked international broadcasters, including CNN, the BBC, Al Jazeera, Fox News, Voice of America, and Sky News, to halt live reporting and leave the area. Radio Mashaal was suspended in 2018 after being accused of anti-Pakistan reporting. The BBC has periodically faced restrictions. Local broadcasters such as Geo News have repeatedly been suspended or taken off air. Indian television channels remain banned. Numerous digital platforms critical of the government have been blocked or throttled. Also read: J&K leaders unite to condemn crackdown on PoK protesters, call for dialogue Press freedom: A 'very serious' problem in Pakistan Pakistan ranks 153rd out of 180 countries in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), placing it in the "Very Serious" category. Freedom House classifies Pakistan as only "Partly Free" overall, while rating its internet environment as "Not Free". Military influence over the media, legal intimidation, digital censorship, enforced disappearances of journalists, and restrictions on independent reporting all contribute to these dubious distinctions. https://www.wionews.com/videos/pok-erupts-against-pakistan-protest-leader-declares-kashmir-is-occupied-territory-1784093238306/embed Is external criticism ‘anti-Muslim’ for Pakistan? The Pakistani establishment — comprising the government, military, and intelligence apparatus — often invokes Islam as the defining faultline separating Pakistan from India. External criticism is frequently portrayed as an extension of prejudice against a Muslim state. Such religious framing collapses when critical reporting on Pakistan originates not from New Delhi, London, or Washington, but from Doha. Al Jazeera's reporting is not the work of a "kafir" state pursuing an anti-Islam agenda. So what's the moral of this story? States that are uncomfortable with independent journalism resort to crackdowns regardless of ideology, religion, or the geography of their critics. Discredit the reporter, question the channel's motives, invoke national security, tighten access, and restrict the flow of information. Pakistan's handling of Al Jazeera demonstrates precisely this instinct. It reveals that the Pakistani establishment's objection is not to criticism from non-Muslim countries. It is to criticism itself. It is about inconvenient truths. DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of WION.

Pakistan's restrictions on Al Jazeera over PoJK election coverage expose a pattern of media censorship, internet control and narrative management. This has nothing to do with its 'kafir' rhetoric against critics, as the broadcaster is from Qatar, a fellow Muslim nation.&nbsp;

Pakistan 'blocks' Al Jazeera website over PoJK reportage: So it's not about 'kafirs', is it?

New Delhi: India has strongly condemned the “ruthless” crackdown by Pakistani occupying forces on peaceful protesters in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). More than 40 civilians have been killed and many others seriously injured in the crackdown on protests amid internet shut down.Speaking at a media briefing, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the Pakistani establishment “continues to unleash ruthless force against peaceful civilians in PoJK.”&nbsp;&nbsp;He described the violence as evidence of “absolute disdain for the innocent people” of the region.&nbsp;The protests, which began in early June 2026 and intensified around elections, have been driven by local grievances over governance, economic hardship, electricity prices and the structure of the assembly.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/utmost-brutality-ex-aap-leader-tahir-hussain-4-others-get-life-term-for-ankit-sharma-s-murder-1785504258932">‘Utmost brutality’: Ex-AAP leader Tahir Hussain, 4 others get life term for Ankit Sharma’s murder</a>&nbsp;Demonstrations have been organised by the Joint Awami Action Committee, a civil society group that has been banned by Islamabad, and branded as a terror organisation.&nbsp;Mr Jaiswal pointed to recent comments by Pakistani officials as further proof of the establishment’s hostility. He noted that Pakistan’s Defence Minister had “branded the protesting civilians as enemies.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Adding to the criticism, Mr Jaiswal highlighted remarks by the Special Assistant to the Pakistani Prime Minister on Political Affairs, who “openly admitted that the very ‘mujahideen’ that Pak establishment trained, armed and sent to bleed India have now turned their guns inward, weaponizing themselves against the state.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Pakistan in the past has trained groups of men for carrying out terror attacks in India.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/supreme-court-grants-divorce-to-omar-abdullah-after-settlement-with-estranged-wife-payal-1785494276973">Supreme Court grants divorce to Omar Abdullah after settlement with estranged wife Payal</a>&nbsp;The Indian foreign ministry spokesperson dismissed the ongoing elections in the region as a “humiliating rejection of the Pak Establishment.”&nbsp;He said people living under what he termed a “violent regime” had called on international organisations for an independent investigation into the “unlawful killings.”&nbsp;“We urge that the international community should scrutinise Pakistan’s actions and hold it accountable for its atrocities,” Mr Jaiswal said.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/215-academics-pen-open-letter-slam-priyanka-gandhi-s-cow-urine-expert-remark-on-iit-madras-director-v-kamakoti-1785420621340">215 academics pen open letter, slam Priyanka Gandhi’s ‘cow urine expert’ remark on IIT Madras director V Kamakoti</a>&nbsp;The unrest has drawn concern from human rights groups. Amnesty International has called for an independent probe into the use of lethal force and urged the restoration of basic services.&nbsp;&nbsp;The international community has so far issued limited formal responses, though the growing casualty figures and official statements from both sides are likely to keep the situation under close watch. In fact, in the UK, 50 MPs have written a joint letter to UK foreign secretary as the situation in the region remains concerning.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal highlighted remarks by the Special Assistant to Pakistani Prime Minister who “openly admitted that the very ‘mujahideen’ that Pak establishment trained, armed and sent to bleed India have now turned their guns inward, weaponizing themselves against the state.

New Delhi: India has strongly condemned the “ruthless” crackdown by Pakistani occupying forces on peaceful protesters in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). More than 40 civilians have been killed and many others seriously injured in the crackdown on protests amid internet shut down. Speaking at a media briefing, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the Pakistani establishment “continues to unleash ruthless force against peaceful civilians in PoJK.” He described the violence as evidence of “absolute disdain for the innocent people” of the region. The protests, which began in early June 2026 and intensified around elections, have been driven by local grievances over governance, economic hardship, electricity prices and the structure of the assembly. Also Read: ‘Utmost brutality’: Ex-AAP leader Tahir Hussain, 4 others get life term for Ankit Sharma’s murder Demonstrations have been organised by the Joint Awami Action Committee, a civil society group that has been banned by Islamabad, and branded as a terror organisation. Mr Jaiswal pointed to recent comments by Pakistani officials as further proof of the establishment’s hostility. He noted that Pakistan’s Defence Minister had “branded the protesting civilians as enemies.” Adding to the criticism, Mr Jaiswal highlighted remarks by the Special Assistant to the Pakistani Prime Minister on Political Affairs, who “openly admitted that the very ‘mujahideen’ that Pak establishment trained, armed and sent to bleed India have now turned their guns inward, weaponizing themselves against the state.” Pakistan in the past has trained groups of men for carrying out terror attacks in India. Also Read: Supreme Court grants divorce to Omar Abdullah after settlement with estranged wife Payal The Indian foreign ministry spokesperson dismissed the ongoing elections in the region as a “humiliating rejection of the Pak Establishment.” He said people living under what he termed a “violent regime” had called on international organisations for an independent investigation into the “unlawful killings.” “We urge that the international community should scrutinise Pakistan’s actions and hold it accountable for its atrocities,” Mr Jaiswal said. Also Read: 215 academics pen open letter, slam Priyanka Gandhi’s ‘cow urine expert’ remark on IIT Madras director V Kamakoti The unrest has drawn concern from human rights groups. Amnesty International has called for an independent probe into the use of lethal force and urged the restoration of basic services. The international community has so far issued limited formal responses, though the growing casualty figures and official statements from both sides are likely to keep the situation under close watch. In fact, in the UK, 50 MPs have written a joint letter to UK foreign secretary as the situation in the region remains concerning.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal highlighted remarks by the Special Assistant to Pakistani Prime Minister who “openly admitted that the very ‘mujahideen’ that Pak establishment trained, armed and sent to bleed India have now turned their guns inward, weaponizing themselves against the state.

India demands international scrutiny of Pakistan’s actions in PoJK as civilian deaths mount

A massive public uprising in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) has escalated into a direct challenge against Islamabad’s control. An indefinite strike and sit-in near the Line of Control (LoC), which began on June 9, has intensified into one of the largest anti-government movements the region has witnessed in recent history.&nbsp;&nbsp;Addressing thousands of demonstrators gathered at Rawalakot's Eidgah Ground, prominent Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) leader Sardar Aman Khan delivered a blistering warning to the Pakistani establishment. Accusing the state of imposing a calculated food blockade to starve out the continuous civilian protests, Khan explicitly warned that Islamabad’s high-handedness could completely backfire.&nbsp;"Our women and children have been sitting in protest at the ceasefire Line," Khan declared. "They say they will stop food supplies to Kashmiris. I say we do not need your rations. You need us."&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pakistan-s-security-crisis-deepens-as-ttp-drives-terror-resurgence-1782808272147">Pakistan's security crisis deepens as TTP drives terror resurgence</a> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;As he continued, Khan said, “Kashmir will not accept any dictator. Kashmir is not part of Pakistan.”&nbsp;<h2>Watch video here:&nbsp;</h2>

Khan cautioned that if the blockade continues, residents may look for "alternative roads" for survival, directly signalling a shift toward India. "Don’t let it come to a point where the remaining routes are opened, and then you are forced to plead with us and beg us to stay," he warned.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/desperate-acts-of-violence-india-strongly-condemns-pakistan-air-strikes-on-afghanistan-killing-civilians-1782764622490">'Desperate acts of violence': India strongly condemns Pakistan air strikes on Afghanistan killing civilians</a>&nbsp;The protests, initially sparked by demands for wheat subsidies, fair electricity tariffs, and infrastructural rights, have evolved into a wider movement for autonomy and freedom from Pakistani exploitation. Despite heavy internet blockades, state-sponsored crackdowns, and a declared ban on the JAAC, tens of thousands of residents continue to hold their ground, asserting that PoJK is not the property of Pakistan.&nbsp;<h3>What triggered the protest?</h3>&nbsp;<ul><li>Electoral Quotas: The Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) is demanding the abolition of 12 state assembly seats reserved for refugees living outside the region in mainland Pakistan, arguing it allows Islamabad to rig local outcomes ahead of the July 2026 elections.</li><li>The Judicial Flashpoint: On June 7, 2026, the region's Supreme Court ruled these seats constitutionally protected, blocking executive removal and triggering a massive "long march" and shutter-down strikes.</li><li>Economic Undercurrents: Persistent anger over hyperinflation, high electricity tariffs, and flour shortages.</li><li>Terrorism Designation: On June 5, 2026, Islamabad officially banned the JAAC under anti-terror laws, drawing severe criticism from international rights bodies.</li><li>Casualties: Severe clashes in Rawalakot, Kotli, and Mirpur claimed at least 11 lives which included protesters and police. And over 70 people were injured.</li><li>Defying Islamabad: Local leaders are using the region's ambiguous constitutional status to declare they are "not part of Pakistan," stripping Islamabad of legal authority to enforce blockades.</li></ul>

Tensions rise as a local leader in POJK declares the region "not part of Pakistan," warning Islamabad that alternative roads to India may open amid ongoing food blockades and civil unrest.

A massive public uprising in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) has escalated into a direct challenge against Islamabad’s control. An indefinite strike and sit-in near the Line of Control (LoC), which began on June 9, has intensified into one of the largest anti-government movements the region has witnessed in recent history. Addressing thousands of demonstrators gathered at Rawalakot's Eidgah Ground, prominent Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) leader Sardar Aman Khan delivered a blistering warning to the Pakistani establishment. Accusing the state of imposing a calculated food blockade to starve out the continuous civilian protests, Khan explicitly warned that Islamabad’s high-handedness could completely backfire. "Our women and children have been sitting in protest at the ceasefire Line," Khan declared. "They say they will stop food supplies to Kashmiris. I say we do not need your rations. You need us." Also read: Pakistan's security crisis deepens as TTP drives terror resurgence As he continued, Khan said, “Kashmir will not accept any dictator. Kashmir is not part of Pakistan.” Watch video here:

Tensions rise as a local leader in POJK declares the region "not part of Pakistan," warning Islamabad that alternative roads to India may open amid ongoing food blockades and civil unrest.

'POJK not part of Pakistan': Local leader warns Islamabad, hinting at alternative roads to India

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Seven years after removal of Article 370, J&K expands hospitals & colleges while PoJK is engulfed in violence

Pakistan 'blocks' Al Jazeera website: So it's not about 'kafirs', is it?

India demands international scrutiny of Pakistan’s actions in PoJK as toll rises

'POJK not part of Pakistan': Local leader warns Islamabad of alternative roads