POJK UNDER SIEGE: INCREASING GLOBAL OUTCRY ON PAK ARMY BRUTALITY

Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir is facing a long-standing political and civil rights crisis. Protests that began over economic and governance issues have escalated into a wider confrontation over political representation, civil liberties and the use of force by Pakistani authorities. Demonstrations have spread across the region for more than two months, while reports of arrests, communications restrictions, curfews and clashes with security forces have increased international concern. What has been largely regarded as an internal Pakistani political matter is now more and more being discussed abroad as a matter of human rights and democratic accountability.

This latest unrest is nothing new. Residents have repeatedly raised issues of electricity prices, shortages of basic commodities, unemployment, inadequate public services and what they describe as limited political autonomy. The controversy over reserved assembly seats for Kashmiri refugees living outside the territory added fuel to the fire, with protesters arguing the arrangement gives Islamabad too much influence over the region's political process. The movement that has emerged has united traders, students, activists and ordinary citizens, turning economic grievances into a broader demand for accountable and representative governance.

One of the key issues of the controversy is the response of the Pakistani authorities. International media has reported deaths, injuries, arrests, curfews and communications curbs and parliament has discussed them. The Joint Awami Action Committee says more than 40 protesters were killed, while authorities report seven law-enforcement personnel dead and deny security forces deliberately fired on protesters, according to the Financial Times. These competing narratives underscore the need for independent investigation and transparent verification of what has taken place on the ground.

Restrictions on information have compounded the crisis. The internet and communication disruptions have made it more difficult for families to stay in touch and for journalists to independently report happenings. The UK government has itself expressed concern about restrictions on communications in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, especially the impact on British nationals and members of the Kashmiri diaspora trying to contact relatives. During a period of unrest, it is natural to worry about whether abuses can be properly documented and whether affected communities can make their voices heard internationally when communication networks are restricted.

For critics of Islamabad’s policy, the behaviour of the security establishment has only served to bolster a long-standing charge that Pakistan’s military establishment considers PoJK more as a strategic territory and not as a territory where the residents should be given meaningful political representation and civil rights. Supporters of the protest movement say the heavy-handed response has only added to public anger. For example, the Vivekananda International Foundation has said that the present movement is significant as it brings together youth participation, demands for basic services, political grievances and growing solidarity among the diaspora.

This is why activists and critics who try to draw attention to the growing global outcry over Military brutality in PoJK have popularised the slogan ‘Pak Army = Terror Army’. As a political slogan, it expresses the rage of those who think armed state power is being used on civilians, not to defend them. However, allegations of unlawful killings, excessive force or deliberate targeting should be independently investigated rather than taken at face value on the basis of political rhetoric. The fundamental issue remains simple: peaceful protesters have the right to assembly, expression and political participation and governments have a duty to protect those rights.

Now the international dimension of the movement is coming more and more to the fore. Kashmiri Kashmiri people and supporters have announced a series of solidarity actions in major international centers, aiming to bring the PoJK situation before governments, international organisations and human-rights institutions. The announced program includes a march in Brussels from the International Court of Justice area to the UN Office, protests across the UK, a demonstration outside the UN Human Rights Office in Geneva and a Grand March in Birmingham in later August.

These acts are indicative of an attempt by the diaspora community to internationalise issues they perceive as being repressed or under-reported in the region. These aren’t just about numbers, these demonstrations. Brussels, Geneva, Birmingham and London are important centers of international diplomacy and political debate. By holding protests at such venues, the activists want to take the PoJK issue from the streets and social media to the offices of parliaments, diplomatic institutions and international human rights forums. Similar efforts have already gained traction in Britain, where Members of Parliament have expressed concern about the political and human rights situation in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The UK Parliament debated the situation in July and raised concerns about the unrest, loss of life, injuries and restrictions on communications.

The increasing international mobilisation of the diaspora community also disrupts Pakistan’s long-standing international narrative on Kashmir. Islamabad has routinely been highlighting disturbing human rights situations in the Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir to the world. Critics now say that the same international scrutiny should be applied to areas administered by Pakistan. Recently, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has appealed to the world to pay attention to the violence being reported from PoJK. “Give Islamabad the same kind of attention that Pakistan has historically demanded for Kashmir on the Indian side.

The crisis thus has implications beyond the immediate protest movement. As restrictions, arrests and charges of excessive force continue, international pressure is likely to grow. Meaningful dialogue, restoration of communication services, transparent investigations and respect for peaceful assembly whereas could help reduce tensions. In the end, it is for the authorities to demonstrate that governance is based on law and not on fear.

The ongoing turmoil for more than 60 days has shown that the problems raised in PoJK cannot be ignored as a temporary disturbance. The movement has taken on a broader political and international scope, fuelled by concerns about economic struggles, representation, civil liberties and the way protesters are treated. The nationwide protests announced across Europe and the UK indicate that the issue is no longer confined to Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot or other towns in the region but has become a concern for a politically active Kashmiri diaspora.

The international community should therefore focus on facts, accountability and protection of civilians. All allegations of unlawful violence must be independently investigated; all peaceful activists detained must be afforded due process and restrictions on essential communications must be subject to legitimate and transparent justification. The people of PoJK, irrespective of their political position on the Kashmir issue, have the right to fundamental rights recognised by international human rights norms. The rising global mobilisation reminds us that when voices are suppressed at home, the communities concerned will look more and more to platforms abroad. The upcoming protests in Brussels, Britain, Geneva and Birmingham will test whether the world is willing to listen.