Tensions are running high in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, or PoK, after deadly clashes between protesters and government forces left more than a dozen people dead. Now, the PoK Chief Secretary has reached out to leaders of the Jammu and Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee, or JKAAC, inviting them for talks to ease the unrest. But the government is still pointing fingers at “external forces” for stirring up the trouble, even as it warns JKAAC to call off the demonstrations or face tough action.
The protests kicked off on October 1 with a massive long march toward Muzaffarabad, organized by JKAAC central leader Shaukat Nawaz Mir. Supporters from towns and cities across PoK joined in, demanding change amid the ongoing turmoil.
In Kotli, locals shut down the area completely, blocking roads and holding sit-ins as security forces sealed off entry points. Over in Dhirkot, a convoy of about 2,000 JKAAC workers from Rawalakote and Bagh headed to Muzaffarabad but ran into heavy resistance. Police opened fire on the group, killing four civilians and injuring around 16 people, including some officers.
Things heated up in Muzaffarabad too. Around 2,000 protesters gathered at Lal Chowk to rally against the Dhirkot deaths, then moved to the Muzaffarabad bypass to link up with other convoys. Pakistani security forces responded with aerial shots and tear gas, leading to two more civilian deaths.
Further south in Dadyal, another JKAAC convoy from Chakswari and Islamgarh faced the same fate. Officers fired on the marchers, killing two and wounding about ten others.
With the death toll in PoK protests surpassing 12, many are calling out the harsh crackdown by Pakistani forces on their own people. Despite the violence, the Chief Secretary’s invitation for JKAAC negotiations offers a glimmer of hope for dialogue.
The unrest isn’t staying local. JKAAC supporters in London plan to protest outside the Pakistan High Commission on October 2, drawing global attention to the PoK situation.
Critics say it’s no surprise that pro-government voices on social media are quick to blame “external agencies” for these homegrown protests, instead of addressing the grievances head-on. This isn’t the first time—Pakistan’s establishment has a long history of shifting blame outward during internal crises. They’ve labeled the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan insurgency as “Indian-sponsored” and the Balochistan rebellion as part of “Fitna-al-Hindustan.” It’s a pattern that dodges real accountability and keeps the focus away from home.
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