NEW DELHI: India has sharply condemned the Pakistani government’s crackdown on civilian protests in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), which has reportedly killed at least 10 people and has hurt many more.
Randhir Jaiswal, a spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, said on Friday that Pakistan “must be held accountable” for its “horrific human rights violations” in the area.
Since late last month, there have been a lot of rallies and violent clashes between protesters and Pakistani security forces in PoK.
The Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), a combination of civil society groups and traders, started the disturbance by calling for an end to “elite privileges” for government officials and the removal of 12 assembly seats set aside for refugees from Jammu and Kashmir.
India Speaks Out Against “Oppressive Approach”
Jaiswal told in a weekly media briefing that there were reports of protests in several parts of PoK and “brutalities by Pakistani forces on innocent civilians.” This was because PoK was completely shut down to protest the violence.
“We think that this is a natural result of Pakistan’s harsh treatment of these areas and its ongoing illegal occupation of them,” Jaiswal said. He strongly repeated India’s long-held view that Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh have always been and will always be a “integral part” of India.
Blackout of communications and ongoing unrest
Since September 28, Pakistani officials have cut off all communications in PoK, including phone and internet access, to keep things under control. Officials have shut down schools and colleges and brought in more police and paramilitary troops from all over Pakistan.
On Friday, a group of mediators from Pakistan’s federal government went to Muzaffarabad, the capital of PoK, to engage with JAAC leaders and try to put an end to the disturbance. Last week, the JAAC and government representatives had a round of talks that ended in violence.
This recent round of protests is the third time since 2023 that PoK has seen major rallies. Protesters are upset about things like rising electricity bills, food shortages, and the lack of basic amenities like free education and healthcare.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), an impartial group that watches over human rights, has sharply criticized the “use of excessive force and the deaths of civilians and law enforcement.” The HRCP said that “dialogue cannot be meaningful” as long as the people of the region are still being politically disenfranchised.