New Delhi/Islamabad: At least 12 people have been killed and over 150 injured in recent unrest across Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK), following violent crackdowns by Pakistani security forces on civilian protesters. The protests, led by the Awami Action Committee (AAC) since September 26, sought political and economic reforms, with demonstrators expressing grievances over decades of deprivation and lack of basic rights.
The Indian government condemned Pakistan’s handling of the situation, attributing the unrest to Islamabad’s oppressive policies and exploitation of resources in the region. The Ministry of External Affairs called for Pakistan to be held accountable for human rights violations and reiterated India’s longstanding stance that POK is an integral part of Indian territory. India also emphasized that no third-party mediation is required or acceptable regarding the Kashmir issue.
Pakistan, however, alleged that India was influencing the protests and urged POK residents not to participate in demonstrations that could benefit its perceived adversary. Authorities in POK deployed additional forces to contain the unrest, which escalated due to clashes between security personnel and protesters, resulting in multiple fatalities and injuries.