Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing a sustained political and civil-rights crisis, with protests that began over economic and governance grievances evolving into a wider confrontation over political representation, civil liberties and the use of force by Pakistani authorities. For more than two months, demonstrations have continued across the region, while reports of arrests, restrictions on communications, curfews and clashes with security forces have intensified international concern. What was once largely treated as an internal Pakistani political issue is increasingly being discussed abroad as a question of human rights and democratic accountability.
The latest unrest has deep roots. Residents have repeatedly raised concerns over electricity prices, shortages of essential commodities, unemployment, inadequate public services and what they describe as limited political autonomy. The controversy surrounding reserved assembly seats for Kashmiri refugees living outside the territory became an additional trigger, with protesters arguing that the arrangement gives Islamabad excessive influence over the region’s political process. The resulting movement has brought together traders, students, activists and ordinary citizens, turning economic grievances into a broader demand for accountable and representative governance.
The response of Pakistani authorities has become one of the central issues of the controversy. Reports from international media and parliamentary discussions have referred to deaths, injuries, arrests, curfews and restrictions on communications. The Financial Times reported that more than 40 protesters had been killed according to the Joint Awami Action Committee, while the authorities reported the deaths of seven law-enforcement personnel and rejected allegations that security forces deliberately fired on protesters. These competing accounts underline the need for independent investigation and transparent verification of what has happened on the ground.
Restrictions on information have added another layer to the crisis. Internet and communication disruptions have made it harder for families to remain connected and for journalists to independently document events. The UK government has itself acknowledged concern about restrictions on communications in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, particularly their impact on British nationals and members of the Kashmiri diaspora trying to contact relatives. When communication networks are restricted during a period of unrest, concerns naturally arise about whether abuses can be properly documented and whether affected communities can make their voices heard internationally.
For critics of Islamabad’s policy, the conduct of the security establishment has reinforced a long-standing accusation: that Pakistan’s military establishment treats PoJK primarily as a strategic territory rather than as a region whose inhabitants deserve meaningful political representation and protection of their civil rights. Supporters of the protest movement argue that the heavy-handed response has only strengthened public anger. The Vivekananda International Foundation, for example, has described the current movement as significant because of its combination of youth participation, demands for basic services, political grievances and growing diaspora solidarity.
This is why the slogan “Pak Army = Terror Army” has gained prominence among sections of activists and critics seeking to draw attention growing global outcry over Military brutality in PoJK. As a political slogan, it expresses the anger of people who believe that armed state power is being used against civilians rather than to protect them. However, allegations of unlawful killings, excessive fo…
PoJK Under Siege: Growing Global Outcry Over Pak Army Brutality
